Solarcentury boosts UK solar development team with appointment of Chris Banks

Tuesday 22nd January 2019, London: Solarcentury, the British solar power company, has appointed Chris Banks as UK Project Development Lead. With 13 years experience in renewable energy development, Chris joins from Renewable Energy Systems (RES). He will be leading a team dedicated to the development of subsidy free solar parks, working together with landowners, farmers and local councils, to generate clean electricity across the UK.

Frans van den Heuvel, CEO, Solarcentury said:

“The appointment of Chris as UK Project Development Lead is a significant move for us as we step up activity here in the UK. Over our 20 years here we have developed over 700MW of solar projects in the UK, prior to significant expansion overseas. Now with over 1GW project development experience across the globe, and solar fast becoming the world’s most cost effective electricity source, we are able to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to meet fast growing demand for renewable energy. We’re committed to developing the future of energy: subsidy-free, utility scale solar projects and welcome Chris to help realise this ambition back here in the UK.”

Solarcentury’s 20 British utility solar parks are located from East Anglia to Cornwall, currently generating clean power for local councils, commercial farms other landowners and communities. They’re providing enough electricity to power the equivilent of over 200,000 homes each year, around the number of homes in a city the size of Bristol.¹

Chris Banks, UK Project Development Lead, Solarcentury said:

“The UK currently produces less than 4% of its electricity from solar, with a renewable energy target of 15% by 2020. These are only set to rise in the very near future given the falling costs of clean power production and we’re here to work with the government, businesses, landlords, developers and other stakeholders who know it makes economic sense to switch to solar now. Together with my team at Solarcentury, I’m here to help secure the UK’s long term clean energy supply by rapidly increasing the deployment of solar power.”

For more information on Solarcentury’s UK development services to go develop.solarcentury-refresh.greenlightdigital.com

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1. 200,000 homes based on 582MW producing c.850 kWh/kWp and an average domestic consumption of 3,500 kWh/yr.

About Solarcentury

Solarcentury is one of the most respected solar companies in the world. Founded in 1998, it has been around since the early days of the industry and has been part of the evolution that has made solar electricity the mainstream energy source that it is today. The company has put solar on a greater variety of sites than any other company in the industry, and won multiple awards for leadership and innovation. To date, Solarcentury has developed and built more than 1 GWp and has a pipeline of 2.4 GWp. The company works end-to-end: developing, structuring finance, building and operating solar projects at commercial and utility scale. It works with partners to bring solar to their customers’ homes. Solarcentury is committed to making solar more accessible and attractive. The company is in business for a purpose: to make a meaningful difference in the fight against climate change through the widespread adoption of solar power. As a big believer that solar can help change our world for the better, the company contributes 5% of its annual net profits to SolarAid; the charity it founded which aims to eradicate kerosene lamps from Africa. Solarcentury is global and growing, with European offices in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Germany; Latin American offices in Panama, Mexico and Chile; and an African office in Kenya. develop.solarcentury-refresh.greenlightdigital.com