Bracks Solar Farm now providing power to c.8,000 homes

Bracks Solar Farm has achieved commercial operations and is now operating at 100% capacity. The solar farm, which is located approximately 2km to the east of Wicken in Cambridgeshire, has a capacity of 30MWp. 

Bracks Solar Farm, alongside broader renewable energy investments, including the Tralorg and Carraig Cheal wind farms and the recent investment in battery energy storage with Constantine Energy Storage, demonstrates Railpen’s commitment to support the UK’s green energy transition. Across renewable energy sites, Railpen now supports the supply of over 200,000 UK homes. 

Railpen and BayWa r.e. officially opened Bracks Solar Farm at an event on the 27 September 2023, welcoming the Mayor of Cambridge and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, along with other guests, to celebrate.  

Anna Rule, Head of Real Assets at Railpen said “As the world navigates the challenges of climate change, the urgency to transition towards cleaner energy sources has becomes more apparent than ever. We recognise the dual purpose of investing in projects such as the Bracks Solar Farm. First, by investing funds into wind, solar, biomass and battery storage projects, we’re actively participating in the UKs green energy transition. Second, by investing in UK property and infrastructure is driven our belief that real estate is an enabler of economic growth. Pension funds, like the railways pension schemes, see the opportunity to support the UK’s green transition as one which not only supports the financial goals of the scheme, but has far-reaching benefits to the UK economy, communities, and the world around us.” 

John Milligan, Managing Director at BayWa r.e. UK Ltd, commented on the recent achievements: “Solar farms are essential to achieve the UK's goal of net-zero carbon by 2050 and ensure homes and businesses can be powered by clean, renewable, and domestically generated energy. The successful commercial operation of Bracks Solar Farm is testament to the hard work put in by our team. With a development pipeline of 2GW across solar, wind and storage projects, we are looking forward to delivering more projects over the coming years.” 

Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said “The costs of the climate emergency will be many times worse in the future if we do not rapidly accelerate our transition to renewable energy. As Mayor I’m proud of the Combined Authority’s work enabling the transport, skills, housing and other infrastructure needed for a net zero carbon future and am hugely encouraged to see this solar farm now working at full capacity.”