The UK government’s June 2025 Solar Roadmap has ignited a spark in the water utilities sector, with floating solar technology taking center stage. Mike Kelly, Director of AquaGen365, asserts that this inclusion opens the floodgates for large-scale deployment across the UK, presenting a significant opportunity for water utilities.
The Solar Taskforce, established under the Conservative government, initially set an ambitious target of 70 GW solar capacity by 2035, focusing on ground-mounted and rooftop solar PV. Labour’s 2024 victory saw them endorse this ambition, setting an interim target of 45 GW by 2030. The Solar Roadmap has since upped the ante, recognizing floating solar’s potential to contribute to an increased 75 GW target.
Water utilities, owning water bodies nationwide, are primed to benefit from floating solar, which could be pivotal in meeting sector carbon net zero targets. English water companies aim for 2030, while Scottish Water, Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water, and Northern Ireland target 2040.
However, challenges persist. The UK has deployed approximately 18 GW of solar PV, accounting for 30% of its renewable energy generation fleet. Yet, to hit the 2035 target, the UK needs over three times this capacity in the next decade. While there’s optimism, with around 30 GW in various stages of development, headwinds like grid network and planning consent system delays could hamper progress.
Enter floating solar. The Freshwater Biological Association identifies 43,470 standing waters in the UK, with a cumulative area of approximately 2,861 km². This equates to a potential floating solar capacity of around 400 GW. Even if only 5% of this potential is realized, it could contribute significantly to the 2035 target.
For water utilities, the potential is substantial. The sector’s electricity consumption in 2023 was approximately 5.2 TWh, equivalent to around 7 GW of floating solar PV installed capacity. While it’s unlikely the sector could meet all its consumption demand within its own estate, the opportunity to capitalize on this potential is significant.
Floating solar offers a viable, scalable, and cost-effective alternative. It can help decarbonize operations, avoid grid constraints, and potentially take advantage of permitted development rights. As the Solar Roadmap states, “Water companies wishing to install floating solar can benefit from PDRs if they are using the electricity generated themselves as part of their statutory duties.”
United Utilities’ Langthwaite Reservoir project exemplifies these principles. The 1 MW floating solar PV array powers the adjacent water treatment works, supplying water to 152,000 people.
The water utilities sector led early floating solar developments, but recent projects have come from other sectors. With the Solar Roadmap’s clear message, the water utilities sector has the chance to reclaim the initiative. Floating solar’s minimal land use makes it ideal for water utility sites, where land is often at a premium or needed for other uses.
This development could reshape the water utilities sector’s approach to renewable energy, accelerating progress towards carbon net zero targets and potentially delivering significant financial savings. The sector’s proven experience and potential in floating solar position it to harness this opportunity and drive the UK’s solar ambitions forward.