Multi-million pound solar farm to be built on the outskirts of Eastbourne

Riding Sunbeams, a solar rail company, has been awarded the grant to build the solar farm to power the rail network between Eastbourne and London.

The company was given £2,527,500 from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s £85 million share of the government’s new Getting Building Fund.

The £900 million UK-wide government fund has been created to invest in local infrastructure projects to drive economic growth and support a green recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

The 3.75 MW Cuckmere Community Solar Farm was granted planning consent in 2017 but has only just secured the funds needed. It is expected to be supplying power to the local railway network by March 2022.

Once it is completed, the solar farm will launch an investment offer so that the project can be owned by local community members and rail commuters who use the network according to Riding Sunbeams.

Paul Harwood, southern region investment director for Network Rail, said, “Trains are already an incredibly efficient way of carrying people and freight – and our ambition is to run a railway that’s sustainable as well as efficient.

“This grant is just great news and we look forward to working with Riding Sunbeams in Sussex.”

Ollie Pendered, executive director of Riding Sunbeams, said, “Our vision is to power trains with commercially priced and unsubsidised renewable energy with a positive social impact.

“This award from the Getting Building Fund is a huge win for Riding Sunbeams, Cuckmere Community Solar and Network Rail.

“It will enable us to work together to prove that MW-scale solar can be directly connected to the railways and open up the market for region-wide solar connections.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to show the UK rail sector that commercial innovation can help power us all to the zero carbon future we need.”

Dr Alister Scott, chair of Cuckmere Community Solar, said, “We’re very pleased that this government funding will allow us to get the solar farm built at last. Most people now know that taking the train is the lowest carbon option for travelling long distances. But electric trains that run on renewable electricity have a carbon footprint that is nearly one hundred times lower than diesel trains.

“By connecting community-owned renewable energy sites like Cuckmere Community Solar to the rail network, Riding Sunbeams can inspire rail users to travel in a really low carbon way with a genuine sense of ownership over the solution. This is a really important next stage on that journey.”

Graham Peters, vice-chair of the south east partnership and chair of Team East Sussex, said, “We are proud to have been instrumental in bringing forward Riding Sunbeams Solar Railways, a truly innovative project to power the railway network with electricity from solar panels which will be a great contributor to the government’s newly announced 10-point climate plan and also demonstrates East Sussex’s commitment to cleaner, greener energy.”

Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, said, “I am delighted that Riding Sunbeams are to be supported with £2.5 million from the government’s Getting Building Fund as one of five projects in my Lewes constituency to receive funding.

“Riding Sunbeams is a world-leading innovator, leading the way in decarbonising our railways to help tackle the climate emergency. Harnessing innovation like this will be crucial to making journeys greener and cleaner.

“Well done to everyone involved in this project. I can’t wait to see the amazing things that can be done with this government funding.”

Councillor Rupert Simmons, lead member for economy at East Sussex County Council, said, “We’re delighted that Riding Sunbeams has been awarded a grant to enable this renewable energy project to proceed. One of the key missions of our Economic Recovery Plan is ‘cleaner energy, greener transport’ and this project is a wonderful example that will help with the push towards a low-carbon economy.”