Centrica, the British energy company that is the parent company of British Gas, has commenced commercial operations at the 18MW Rolleston Park Farm in Burton-on-Trent.
The project covers 30 hectares and consists of more than 29,000 panels, which, according to Centrica, will be able to meet the power needs of approximately 6,200 households. The company did not provide details on the models or technologies of the panels used in the factory.
The project was delivered in partnership with UK-based Push Power Limited, which provided design, construction and commissioning services. Push Power and Centrica also collaborated on the 18 MW Codford solar project in Wiltshire, which started commercial operations in June 2023.
“Rolleston Solar Farm is an important milestone for Centrica and underlines our commitment to delivering clean, safe and affordable energy,” said Dave Kirwan, CEO of Centrica Power. “By expanding our portfolio of renewables and flexible assets, we are supporting the transition to net zero while delivering the stable, predictable returns that underpin our long-term investment plans.”
Centrica also highlighted its renewable energy projects currently under development, including a 16MW solar PV project, along with a 3MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Dorset. These projects are part of the company’s £4 billion “green-focused” investment plan, which was first announced in 2023 and will run until 2028.
The news follows a number of developments in UK utility-scale solar projects, such as Aukera commences commercial operations with a 37.6 MW solar PV portfolio in Shropshire and Essex. Despite these developments, the UK residential solar sector remains a driving force behind the UK solar sector. with rooftop PV accounting for more than half of new project installations by April 2026a month in which total capacity additions increased by 11.2% year-on-year.
