Water utilities are turning to solar energy to run treatment facilities, cut fossil fuel use, and reduce operating costs. Installing solar panels on rooftops and unused land helps utilities generate clean energy while making efficient use of available space. Read how Welsh Water is using solar power at its Five Fords site to enhance energy self-sufficiency, reduce emissions, and advance its Net Zero goals.
Benefits of On-Site Solar Generation
Adding solar power to treatment plants helps lower electricity costs and boosts energy resilience. On-site generation is especially useful in remote or off-grid locations. Solar energy meets high daytime demand, and with battery storage, plants can use solar power even after sunset, reducing reliance on the grid.
Types of Solar Installations
Utilities are adopting ground-mounted solar arrays and floating solar panels on reservoirs or lagoons to produce clean energy. Floating systems help conserve land and enhance efficiency by keeping panels cool. These solutions lower energy costs and support long-term sustainability and climate goals.
Falling Costs and Incentives Make Solar More Accessible
Declining solar technology costs are making it easier for utilities of all sizes to adopt clean energy. Financial incentives like subsidies and feed-in tariffs add further support. When paired with energy efficiency upgrades, solar installations offer long-term savings and enhanced environmental performance.
Overcoming Challenges to Solar Adoption in Utilities
While solar offers many benefits, barriers such as high upfront costs, site limitations, and regulatory issues can slow progress. Successful implementation requires careful planning, stakeholder involvement, and seamless integration with existing systems. Long-term performance depends on thorough lifecycle assessments and ongoing maintenance strategies.
Solar Adoption Drives Decarbonization and Leadership
Utilities that embrace solar energy support broader decarbonization goals across the sector. With rising concerns over climate change and energy security, integrating renewables into wastewater treatment is a strategic move. By doing so, forward-looking utilities enhance efficiency and showcase environmental responsibility.
Case Study: Welsh Water’s Five Fords Energy Park Advances Net-Zero Goals with Solar and Biogas Integration
Welsh Water is expanding renewable energy generation at its Five Fords wastewater treatment works in Wrexham, north-east Wales. A new solar project will install an additional 40,000 solar panels near the treatment facility, supplementing the 10,000 panels already on site. This fivefold increase in solar capacity supports the site’s transition into a diversified energy park.
In collaboration with Innova Renewables, which has a broad portfolio of solar assets across England and Wales, Welsh Water aims to meet approximately 8% of its total annual electricity and gas requirements through renewable energy generated at Five Fords. This output is equivalent to the energy needed to power about 4,500 homes.
The site currently treats wastewater for 180,000 customers across North Wales. It already hosts Combined Heat and Power engines. It produces biomethane from sewage sludge through anaerobic digestion, a process in which bacteria break down organic matter in oxygen-free conditions to release methane. The resulting renewable gas is converted into usable energy.
Over recent years, Welsh Water has invested £36 million into developing the Five Fords site into a model for green energy use within the water sector. The facility now represents one of the industry’s most varied renewable energy operations.
The solar expansion contributes to Welsh Water’s target of achieving Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2040. It also supports the utility’s goal of reducing reliance on the grid, lowering power costs, and delivering long-term value to customers.
The Take-Out
Solar energy integration in wastewater treatment enhances energy efficiency, reduces emissions, and supports utilities in achieving long-term sustainability goals.
WATER-FOOD NEXUS Webinar Series: Circularity, Innovation & Sustainability
Join our four-part online webinar series by EIT Food and Our Future Waterto build skills in systems thinking, design innovation, nature-based strategies, and sustainable financing. Learn live, connect globally, and gain practical tools to advance circular, resilient water-food systems — all from anywhere in the world.
Stay Connected & Gain Exclusive Water Insights
🔹 Stay ahead in water innovation! 👉 Sign up for Our Future Water’s LinkedIn newsletter for expert insights and industry trends.
🔹 Want in-depth Middle East water insights? 👉 Subscribe to the Middle East Water Tech Brief for exclusive analysis on desalination, AI innovations, mega-projects, and climate-resilient water investments.
🔹 Join the movement! 🌍 Become a member of the Our Future Water Network and connect with global water leaders shaping the future.
🔹 Join the conversation in the following LinkedIn groups:
Urban Water Security, Our Future Water, Circular Water Economy, Blue-Green Infrastructure, Nature-Based Solutions, Climate Resilient Water Resources Management, Water Governance, Global Climate Solutions, Nature-Based Water Management
📢 Published: The Circular Economy and Liveable Cities (Cambridge University Press)
Coming soon from Cambridge University Press — “The Circular Economy and Liveable Cities,” edited by Robert C. Brears, Our Future Water. This essential guide delivers actionable strategies and best practices for implementing circular economy, climate resilience, and sustainability in urban environments, with global examples from leading cities like Tokyo, New York, and Singapore to help planners, policymakers, and researchers build liveable and sustainable cities for the future.
📘 Coming Soon — 2nd Edition of Nature-Based Solutions to 21st Century Challenges (Routledge)
Fully revised and updated, the second edition of Nature-Based Solutions to 21st Century Challenges by Robert C. Brears offers a timely and systematic review of how working with nature can address today’s most pressing environmental and societal issues. Featuring new case studies from across the globe, expanded insights on public policy, AI, and community-led initiatives, this edition is essential reading for anyone shaping a sustainable future.
📚 New Book Titles on Solar Energy and Water Utilities
📚 Renewable Energy Transition: Strategies for sustainable systems and global clean energy solutions.
📚 Green Innovation for a Sustainable Future: Harnessing renewable energy and clean technologies for transformation.
📚 Smart Water Grids: Technology and innovation for efficient and sustainable water distribution.
📚 Shape the Future of Sustainability: Contribute to Springer Nature’s Landmark Publications
As Editor-in-Chief, Robert C. Brears invites experts, researchers, and practitioners to contribute to impactful and forward-thinking publications from Springer Nature. These comprehensive Handbooks and Encyclopedias explore Nature-Based Solutions, sustainable resource management, ecosystem well-being, and the global energy transition.
- Palgrave Handbook of Nature-Based Solutions
- Palgrave Encyclopedia of Sustainable Resources and Ecosystem Resilience
- Palgrave Handbook of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being
- Palgrave Handbook of Energy Transition and Renewable Energy
- Palgrave Handbook of Urban Climate and Disaster Resilience
- Palgrave Handbook of Social Transformations in Science, Innovation, and Education
📚 Shape the Future of Climate Resilience: Contribute to Palgrave’s Pivot Series (Springer Nature)
As Series Editor, Robert C. Brears invites experts to contribute to Palgrave Studies in Climate Resilient Societies, a leading Pivot series (25,000–50,000 words) exploring climate resilience, policy innovation, and sustainability strategies.
📩 For more details, visit: Seeking Authors — Palgrave Studies in Climate Resilient Societies
