Lightsource BP

Lightsource BP, rebranded from Lightsource Renewable Energy in 2018, is the largest solar developer in Europe, and third largest in the world outside of China.[1][2] Lightsource BP is a British company with headquarters in London, and offices in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Mumbai, New Delhi, Cairo, Melbourne, Amsterdam, Bath, Belfast and Dublin.

Lightsource BP
TypePrivate company
IndustrySolar power
PredecessorLightsource Renewable Energy
Founded2010
FounderNick Boyle
Headquarters,
Key people
Nick Boyle (CEO)
ProductsElectric power
ServicesDevelopment and operation of solar parks
Number of employees
~350
ParentBP
Websitewww.lightsourcebp.com

History

The company was founded in 2010 as Lightsource Renewable Energy. In 2011, the company's first solar park was established in Truro. It consists of more than 5,000 panels that can generate enough electricity to supply 430 homes in the area. In 2013, Lightsource completed a 5 MW rooftop solar PV installation at Bentley Motors' factory in Crewe.[3]

In 2016, the company launched Europe's largest floating solar project at the Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir, in Walton-on-Thames.[4]

In 2016, Lightsource completed the Crookedstone Solar Farm, in Antrim, Northern Ireland, which provides a third of the Belfast International Airport's electricity needs.[1]

In 2017, BP acquired a 43% stake in the company by investing $200 million.[5] The company was accordingly renamed Lightsource BP.[2] At the same year, the company established teams in North America, the Netherlands and India.

In 2018, the company completed its first international installation, a 60 MW solar farm in Maharashtra, India. Lightsource BP won the offtake contract through a 450 MW tender process. The project comprises 200,000 LONGi Solar photovoltaic panels ground-mounted across 240 acres (97 ha). In that year, Lightsource BP also signed a 25-year power purchase and asset acquisition agreement with Mid-Kansas Electric Company in Stanton County, Kansas, United States.

In 2018, Lightsource BP formed EverSource Capital, a partnership with Everstone Group to create a major fund management platform for green energy infrastructure in India. The launch fund for EverSource Capital was the Green Growth Equity Fund, which has a fundraising target of £500 million and joint anchor investments from the UK Government and the India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, with a commitment of £120 million each. Also in 2018, the company formed a joint venture Lightsource BP Powered by Hassan Allam Utilities in Egypt with HA Utilities, the utilities subsidiary of Hassan Allam Holding.

Operations

As of 2018, Lightsource BP has commissioned 1,300 MW of solar capacity and manages about 2,000 MW of solar capacity. It plans to increase the capacity up to 8,000 MW through projects in the Americas, India, Europe and the Middle East.[2]

Alongside funding, developing, constructing and connecting solar installations across the globe, Lightsource BP provides operations and maintenance, and asset management services to solar assets owners in the UK and beyond.

References

  1. Mulgrew, John (2016-05-19). "Solar farm to provide third of Belfast International Airport's power". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  2. Bousso, Ron; Twidale, Susanna (15 December 2017). "BP returns to solar with investment in Lightsource". Reuters. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  3. "Bentley, Lightsource in Rooftop Solar Power Project". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  4. Good, Alastair (2016-03-22). "Europe's largest floating solar farm powers up". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  5. "BP Re-Enters Solar Power Market With $200 Million U.K. Deal". Bloomberg. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
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