Secretary of state opens Ketton solar plant

Energy and climate change secretary Amber Rudd opened the second phase of the 13 megawatt solar installation at Ketton cement works in Rutland.

The ground-mount project was jointly developed by Lark Energy and Armstrong Energy on restored quarry workings and is providing around 13 per cent of the plant’s electricity requirements.

Amber Rudd said: “It is fantastic to see the juxtaposition of energy-intensive industry working hand-in-hand with renewables. Often there is a perception that it is one or the other, you can’t have them working well together. It’s fantastic to see such a great success here in an unusual setting. Large scale solar is perfectly suited to industrial sites like this where all the energy can be used directly by a nearby business.”

The Ketton project has won praise from both environmentalists and business leaders and is blazing a trail for UK innovation. Visitors to the site have included the Malaysian minister of energy, green technology and water with a delegation of nine government officials.