East Green Energy celebrates national award win for Suffolk floating solar project
We are incredibly proud to announce that East Green Energy has won Commercial Project of the Year at the Solar & Storage Live Awards 2026, recognising our floating solar installation at Suffolk Fresh near Ipswich.
The award was presented at The Vox in Birmingham on 22nd September, bringing together businesses and projects from across the UK solar and energy storage industry.
For us, it is a particularly special win. East Green Energy started here in Suffolk nearly 20 years ago, and while we now deliver renewable energy projects across the UK, it is fantastic to see a pioneering project on our doorstep receive national recognition.
A landmark floating solar project
The award-winning project is a 750 kWp floating solar installation at Suffolk Fresh in Great Blakenham, where around 1,250 solar panels have been installed across approximately 3,500 square metres of reservoir.
The electricity generated is used to help power Suffolk Fresh’s 8.4-hectare semi-closed hydroponic glasshouse, reducing the amount of electricity the business needs to import from the grid.
The project has already delivered impressive results. During its first ten months, the floating solar system generated almost 500 MWh of renewable electricity, with around 95% of that power used directly on site. Based on its performance so far, the system is helping to meet around 20% of the nursery’s electricity requirements.
By installing the panels on an existing reservoir, Suffolk Fresh has also been able to generate a significant amount of renewable energy without using productive agricultural land.
National recognition for the team
Jack Gawthrop, Commercial Manager at East Green Energy, said:
“This is a huge moment for East Green Energy and we couldn’t be prouder. To win Commercial Project of the Year at one of the biggest awards in our industry means a great deal to all of us.
“We’ve always believed in the potential of this project, and to see it recognised nationally is something really special. It shows that innovative renewable energy schemes of this scale are being designed and delivered right here in Suffolk.”
The project was a collaborative effort, working closely with Suffolk Fresh and National Pontoon to bring the floating array to life.
Jack added:
“This award reflects a fantastic team effort, and we are grateful to everyone involved. A huge thank you has to go to Suffolk Fresh for trusting us with such an ambitious project, and to National Pontoon for their work alongside us.”
The potential for floating solar in the UK
Floating solar offers businesses and landowners with suitable reservoirs and bodies of water another way to generate renewable electricity, particularly where land availability is limited or needs to remain in productive use.
It is an area in which East Green Energy continues to build considerable experience, alongside our work delivering commercial rooftop and ground-mounted solar, battery storage and wider renewable energy projects across the UK.
Founded in 2007, we are now approaching our 20th year in the renewable energy industry.
Jack said: “We’ve seen the renewable energy industry change enormously over the past two decades, and projects like Suffolk Fresh show just how far the technology and the opportunities have come.
“Floating solar has enormous potential in the UK and we’re excited to be at the forefront of it. To have the work of our team recognised nationally makes this a very proud moment for East Green Energy.”
Interested in finding out more about floating solar or whether it could work for your site? Get in touch with the East Green Energy team to discuss your project.
