The rising potential of Floating Solar in the UK
At the end of last year, we delivered one of our most exciting projects to date - a 750 kWp floating solar system for Suffolk Fresh in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich. Spanning 3,500 m² of reservoir surface and built from 1,250 high‑performance solar panels, the installation is designed to supply around 20% of the energy needed to power the UK’s first semi‑closed hydroponic glasshouse, an 8.4‑hectare site roughly the size of 11 football pitches.
With a projected six‑year payback and an estimated 15% ROI, the project shows just how commercially compelling floating solar has become for high‑consumption businesses.
The challenge
When most people picture solar power, they think of rooftops or the large ground‑mounted arrays that have become familiar across the countryside. But land is under pressure, especially in regions like Suffolk where agriculture, food production and development all compete for space.
Floating solar, or floatovoltaics, offers a different route. By using reservoirs, lagoons and other water bodies, businesses can generate clean energy without sacrificing land or disrupting operations.
For Suffolk Fresh, this was a natural fit. Their reservoir at Great Blakenham was a stable, under‑used asset. By installing a floating array, they were able to introduce renewable generation without affecting their glasshouse footprint or surrounding farmland.
What is Floating Solar?
Floating solar systems sit on buoyant platforms that rise and fall with the water level. The panels operate just like any other solar project, converting sunlight into electricity, but the water beneath them brings added benefits:
Natural cooling, which boosts efficiency
Reduced evaporation, helping preserve water resources
No land impact, avoiding planning challenges
Improved energy yield, thanks to stable temperatures and reflective surfaces
Globally, the technology is accelerating. In 2023, the floating solar market was valued at £7.1 billion, with forecasts suggesting it could reach £32.3 billion by 2030. Installed capacity is rising rapidly too, driven by government support, falling technology costs and the need for renewable solutions that don’t compete with agriculture.
Why Floating Solar makes sense for the UK
The UK has thousands of reservoirs and lagoons, many of them on private or industrial land, and most aren’t currently being used for energy generation. Floating solar changes that by turning these under‑used water bodies into productive assets. For sites where land is limited or heavily protected, it offers a practical alternative to ground‑mounted systems, which can be difficult to progress when farmland is valuable or planning constraints are tight. By using surfaces that already exist, floating solar avoids many of the challenges associated with land use and provides a route to renewable energy that doesn’t interfere with day‑to‑day operations.
There are also clear performance and environmental benefits. Panels naturally run cooler over water, which helps improve efficiency and increase overall output. Covering part of a reservoir can also help reduce evaporation and reduces wave action across the reservoir, greatly reducing erosion, a useful advantage for businesses that rely on stored water. Crucially, floating solar supports the UK’s Net Zero ambitions without competing for agricultural land, making it particularly appealing for food producers, horticulture businesses and water‑intensive industries looking for reliable, low‑carbon power.
Tapping Into the UK’s existing water assets
According to the British Hydropower Association, the UK generates around 5.496 TWh of hydroelectric energy each year across 1,657 installed hydropower schemes. Many of these sites already have the transmission infrastructure needed to support further renewable generation. Even using a small proportion of the water surface available across these schemes for floating solar could provide a huge boost to national energy output, strengthening the UK’s renewable mix without requiring additional land.
A growing opportunity for the UK
Countries like Germany, Italy and Japan have already adopted floating solar at scale. The UK is still catching up, which means there is significant untapped potential, particularly in regions like East Anglia where agriculture and horticulture dominate.
Floating solar won’t replace rooftop or ground‑mounted systems, but it offers a compelling alternative where land is limited, planning is challenging or water assets are already part of the site.
As the technology continues to mature, we expect to see far more organisations exploring this route, with Suffolk Fresh’s installation offering a clear indication of what’s achievable.
