The scheme, managed by Portsmouth City Council’s in-house energy services team and installed by Custom Solar, began in February 2022 and incorporates roof-mounted solar panels across a number of buildings, a large battery and solar canopies.

The project will see the port become the first of its kind in the UK to have solar canopies, and will have a megawatt sized battery installed as part of a renewable installation.

The power produced by the 2,660 solar panels will contribute around 35% of the site’s power and once completed, the 1.2 megawatt peak system will be the largest solar and battery installation to date across the city’s council’s portfolio of renewable generation systems.

The new battery will work in tandem with a previously announced battery storage pilot, which will balance services to the national grid and storing power during lower pricing periods.

Cabinet member for Climate Change and Environment at Portsmouth City Council, Kimberly Barrett, said: “It is the council’s priority to support clean growth. This major milestone on this innovative project means that the project is on-track to begin generating clean energy later this year. When operational, it will reduce annual emissions by 239 tonnes at this busy site."