AlphaReal acquired the consented greenfield project with approved planning permission and grid connection from CleanEarth who also successfully managed the construction and energization of the three-turbine project.
The site, previously used as a landfill for domestic waste, has been undergoing restoration by the landowner. This pioneering project is AlphaReal’s first where a disused landfill site has been repurposed for the use of clean energy production.
Raza Ali, Investment Director, Renewable Infrastructure at AlphaReal said: “This has been a fascinating acquisition, and we are pleased that it is now operational and generating clean energy. Repurposing industrial land for clean energy production helps support land restoration while also supporting the UK’s goal of becoming net zero by 2050.”
The turbine components were transported to the site using the relatively new and innovative technology of blade lifters which enable blades to be mounted horizontally on trailers and tilted to an angle of up to 60 degrees facilitating access via narrow transport routes and / or dense residential or commercial areas.
AlphaReal has also recently signed a physical sleeved Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) for the site commencing from 1 September 2024 with a leading European packaging company with numerous locations across the UK.
A renewable energy survey conducted by AlphaReal(1) with UK pension funds and insurers who collectively oversee almost £360 billion in assets, showed that 87% of respondents plan to increase investment in onshore wind in the next five years, including 30% who plan significant increases in their allocations. Onshore wind was reported as the preferred renewable energy choice for UK pension funds and insurers, with two-thirds of those interviewed (67%) saying their funds have allocations to it.
Maria Vaggione, ESG Associate Director at AlphaReal added: “This site is a strong addition to our £1billion-plus portfolio of renewable energy assets. Not only does it support increasing investor demand, it creates additional renewable energy capacity and supports land rehabilitation and restoration of biodiversity as the site regenerates.
AlphaReal works with a wide range of UK and European investors, including pension funds, insurers, and other large institutional investors.
