Solar power on the water you already own
We develop, fund and operate floating solar arrays on quarry lakes, reservoirs and docks. You get cheaper, fixed-price electricity on site, with no capital outlay and no land taken.
Working in Somerset, Gloucestershire and the Bristol area. Schemes from 0.5 to 5 MW.
We take the project from first look to power on
You keep running your site. We do the development work, carry the cost and the risk, and sell you the electricity the array produces.
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Site review
A free desk review and site visit to check water area, water levels, designations and how much electricity you use.
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Feasibility and consents
Layout, mooring and yield design, ecology surveys, planning permission and the grid paperwork, coordinated with your operations team.
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Funding and build
We arrange the funding and appoint specialist installers. The array is assembled on the bank and floated into place, usually in weeks.
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Operate and supply
We own, insure and maintain the array and supply its power straight to your site under a long-term agreement.
Cheaper power from water you already own
Lower, fixed electricity costs
Power supplied directly to your site at an agreed price, below what you pay your supplier today and fixed for the term.
No capital outlay
We fund the development, the equipment and the build. You pay only for the electricity you use.
No land taken
The array sits on water you are not otherwise using, so working areas, stockpiles and future extraction are untouched.
Less evaporation and algae
Shading part of the surface reduces evaporation and the sunlight that drives algal growth.
Progress on net zero
Measurable on-site renewable generation that counts towards your carbon reduction targets.
Little call on your time
One point of contact for the whole project. We work around your operations, inductions and permits.
Does your water fit?
A typical 1 MW array covers about one hectare of water. We look for sites like these.
- About 2.5 hectares of water or moreQuarry lakes, storage reservoirs, settlement lagoons or enclosed dock basins. We normally cover well under half the surface.
- A stable water body outside active working areasWater levels can rise and fall; moorings are designed for it. We avoid sumps that move with the working face.
- Electricity use on sitePumps, crushers, treatment works or other plant that can use the power directly.
- No conflicting designationsWater outside SSSIs and similar wildlife designations, and compatible with your restoration plans.
What site owners ask us
Can floating solar work next to an active quarry?
Yes, if the array is on water outside the working area and the blast exclusion zone. Normal quarry vibration limits are well within what the floats and panels tolerate. Dust settles on the panels, so cleaning is part of the maintenance plan.
What if the water level changes?
The array floats, so it rises and falls with the water. Moorings and cables are designed for the full range of levels on your site, including drawdown and any planned changes to pumping.
What happens in a storm?
Panels sit low on the floats at a shallow angle so there is little for the wind to catch, and the whole array is moored for severe storms. Sheltered inland water such as a quarry lake or reservoir is a gentle environment compared with open sea.
Is it bad for wildlife or water quality?
We cover only part of the surface, leave margins and shallows clear, and use float materials suitable for contact with water. Ecology surveys come before any design is fixed, and the results shape the layout.
Sunraft Energy
Sunraft Energy is a new, independent developer of floating solar, based in Bristol and focused on sites in the South West.
David Fitter: Founder. David's background is in installing solar on buildings, from rooftops to commercial premises. He set up Sunraft Energy to bring that installation experience to floating solar on industrial water such as quarry lakes, reservoirs and docks. Much of the practical work carries over, from site surveys and electrical design to installation planned around a working site.
- Who we work with: quarry operators, water companies, port operators and industrial landowners.
- Scheme size: typically 0.5 to 5 MW, sized to your on-site demand.
- Area: Somerset, Gloucestershire, Bristol and the wider South West.
- Approach: independent, plain-speaking, and we tell you early if a site will not work.
Talk to us about your site
Tell us where your water is and roughly how much electricity you use. We will come back within two working days.
- Phone 020 7431 3438
- Email info@sunraft-energy.co.uk