Shotwick Solar Park: powering Deeside with clean, reliable energy.
Shotwick Solar Park is the largest solar park in the UK and the largest private wire connection in the UK, helping power 18,000 homes sustainably.
Timeline
See how our project timeline progresses and what we do
Identify & survey
Engage & tailor
Approvals & constructs
Operate & steward
tonnes of CO₂ avoided annually
(equivalent) Households powered
acres of land covered
About this project
At 72.2MWp, Shotwick Solar Park is the largest solar park in the UK and home to the country’s biggest private wire connection. Located in Deeside, Flintshire, it plays a vital role in powering local industry with clean, renewable energy.
The park generates around 68,590 megawatt hours (MWh) of green electricity every year — enough to supply an average of 18,055 homes and prevent 15,991 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
Covering around 220 acres, the site is also carefully managed to protect open land and maintain habitats for local wildlife.
Shotwick is connected directly to the UPM paper manufacturing plant, which runs 24 hours a day, producing 100% recycled paper. The solar park provides around 60% of the factory’s total energy needs, saving the company roughly £800,000 per year and strengthening its competitiveness in global markets.
Project story
British Solar Renewables was brought into the Shotwick project at a late stage but played a decisive role in turning it into the UK’s largest solar installation of its kind.
When engaged, the project’s capacity stood at 45MWp. Our engineering and design teams reconfigured and re-engineered the park to increase output to 72.2MWp, improving production across the year and maximising the site’s potential.
Working closely with partners, we successfully brought together the funding consortium, panel supplier, and construction teams, completing the build in just 10 weeks — an extraordinary delivery timeline for a project of this scale.
Our Project Management and Commercial teams also secured the critical 132kV cable route, navigating complex challenges such as a railway line, high-pressure gas mains, and a dual carriageway.
BSR Connect managed the construction of the 132kV substation, redesigning the grid connection to meet strict deadlines while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Biodiversity and nature protection
Protecting and enhancing nature is central to how we deliver renewable energy. We are committed to leaving each site in better ecological condition than we found it.
The 220-acre solar park includes grassland, hedgerows, and open areas that support pollinators, small mammals, and birdlife.
Working with landowners and local ecology specialists, our environmental team regularly monitors the site to ensure vegetation is managed responsibly and that biodiversity continues to thrive around the solar arrays.
Shotwick at a glance:
- 220 acres of protected land supporting local wildlife
- Managed grassland and hedgerows providing habitat for pollinators and birds
- Ongoing collaboration with landowners to maintain ecological value
FAQs
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Contact Us
We’re proud to have helped deliver Shotwick Solar Park, a landmark in the UK’s transition to renewable energy.
We develop, build and operate renewable projects that deliver reliable, responsible power for communities and businesses across the UK.
If you have questions about this project or want to learn more about partnering with us, please get in touch.