Energy minister opens Hanson solar installation

Energy and climate change minister Amber Rudd opened the second phase of a 13 megawatt solar installation at Hanson Cement’s Ketton works in Rutland on July 13.

The ground-mount project, jointly developed by Lark Energy and Armstrong Energy, will provide 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.

“I know how important the solar industry is to the UK. It is one of the great British success stories and it’s fantastic to see a great success here in an unusual setting.”

Hanson Cement managing director Jim Claydon said: “Cement production is highly energy-intensive, which brings with it a responsibility for us to do all we can to reduce carbon emissions and protect the climate. We have invested a lot of money in recent years to enable greater use of alternative fuels in the kilns and we now have a source of renewable energy to tap into right on our doorstep.

“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.