NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltd (LSE:NESF) said it has begun construction of its third solar farm, Whitecross in Lincolnshire, after disruption to the photovoltaic (PV) supply chain abated.
The 36MW subsidy-free plant is expected to be energised during the first quarter of next year, feeding renewable power for the yearly electricity consumption of 10,000 households.
When added to its two other subsidy-free plants, NESF will have around 100MW of its 150MW target in subsidy-free solar capacity.
Construction will be carried out by EPC GEMEC UK, which constructed two of NESF’s previous subsidy-free plants, the 50MW Staughton and 8.4MW High Garrett.
Jinko Solar has been selected to supply solar modules for Whitecross, having agreed to the adoption of NESF's supplier code of conduct policies and procedures to ensure its high ESG and technical standards, the company said.
Jinko Solar’s N-type solar cells offer superior power density and efficiency, which recently set a world record for solar cell efficiency, meaning they have a high ability to convert the sun's energy to electricity.
NESF said it “will receive long-term benefits from this technology as it decreases the land footprint necessary for Whitecross's installed capacity, optimising land use and performance of the solar plant”.
It added: “Crucially, Whitecross will rapidly bring extra power capacity to the market and contribute to the reduction of fossil fuels used for power generation in the UK, against the current backdrop of unprecedented and sustained higher power prices.”