Martifer Solar, a subsidiary of Martifer SGPS, has unveiled a new pipeline of 100 MW of solar PV projects in development in the United Kingdom.
The company has shown tremendous success over the past few years as it has become a leading fully-integrated Developer, EPC (Engineering, procurement and construction) and O&M Service player in the UK market. Martifer Solar's team in the UK features in-house expertise and capabilities to manage all stages of the project development process, from prospecting and licensing to asset management.
The new 100 MW portfolio consists of utility-scale projects ranging from 5 MW to 26 MW, in various stages of the solar development process. The projects are spread across the UK in the South, Midlands, Nottinghamshire and South of Wales regions. The portfolio is expected to progress along the next several months to boast more fully-developed and shovel ready projects to be completed by early 2015.
Henrique Rodrigues, CEO of Martifer Solar, said, "This new 100 MW pipeline of projects in development within the UK establishes our footprint as a leading Developer in the global PV market. Driven by momentum and our strategic objectives, Martifer Solar is reshaping its core business into a world-class solar Developer across our geographies—the company celebrates this announcement as a significant milestone along the path to our future success in achieving this target."
Martifer Solar's recent achievements along its development efforts in the UK include the previously announced Planning Consent approval for 11 MW Rydon Farm and the newly attained Planning Consent for Francis Court. Located near Exeter in Southwest UK, Francis Court is a 4.2 MW project, for which the company is planning to sell its project rights. Additionally, the projects being developed within the new 100 MW portfolio will be sold to third party investors once they are ready to build.
Jo?o Cunha, Director of Martifer Solar UK, stated, "With a healthy pipeline of an additional 100 MW in development within the United Kingdom, our team's dedication and strength are apparent. We have already proven our capabilities with almost 110 MW of utility-scale projects completed within a year, and we are looking to double this capacity for the next year, maintaining a strong and dynamic growth in the UK market."
With the expected transition in the UK market from ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates) to a CfD (Contracts for Difference) application system in April 2015, Martifer Solar remains confident about the utility-scale market in the country. As the UK's Minister of State for Climate Change, Greg Barker, recently stated from their own polling data, there is great public support for the switch to renewable technologies, with support for technologies such as solar PV at 85%.
