Aura Power has secured project financing to fund the construction of its Kemble solar farm near Cirencester, UK. This is the first UK project in its portfolio that the company will be taking into construction and operations.

Bristol based renewable energy developer, Aura Power, established in 2013, has successfully reached financial close on a circa £44 million project financing debt facility, for the construction of the 49.9 MW Kemble solar farm from Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.

This significant milestone marks the company’s transition from development into construction, and is the first in a series of eight UK RTB projects, totalling over 500MWp, which have secured planning permission in the last 24 months.

Kemble solar farm will generate enough clean electricity to power over 14,000 homes saving over 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere each year that otherwise would have been created through using gas as an energy source. It also includes a £20,000 annual community benefit fund designed to support local projects and initiatives. 

Working with the landowners, the Bathurst Estate, Aura Power first announced their plans for the project in November 2020 and subsequently consulted with local residents to evolve the project’s design, which includes an extensive planting and flood mitigation plan. The landscaping proposals are calculated to deliver a biodiversity net gain of around 30%. Planning permission was secured in April 2022 and preparatory works, including extensive archaeological excavations, and other pre-construction ecological surveys have since been completed. 

Powersystems UK Ltd are contracted to undertake the Independent Connection Provider (ICP) works which will include the construction of the substation and cable route. ib vogt will be undertaking the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) works, with construction of the main solar site to commence in early 2025.

Kemble solar farm was successful in the UK Government’s Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 5 in 2023. 

Simon Coulson, CEO of Aura Power said “Securing project financing for this project is a significant milestone for Aura Power. It marks not just the start of construction but a new direction for the company as we move towards an IPP model. This success is testament to our team and partners who demonstrate a real commitment to driving the energy transition and delivering projects to the highest standards. We are particularly grateful to the local community for working with us to finalise the design of the project.”

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