RWE has brought its first operational solar farm in the United Kingdom online with the 35-megawatt Langford Solar Farm in Devon now generating electricity.
The project is expected to produce approximately 49,500 megawatt hours of electricity annually, sufficient to power more than 15,000 typical UK households, according to the company. The site will soon be complemented by a co-located 35MW battery energy storage system, currently under construction and slated for completion in the coming weeks.
Langford is the first of 11 hybrid sites being developed by RWE across England as part of a wider initiative aiming to deliver 530MW of solar and 105MW of battery storage capacity.
RWE stated the Langford project is expected to help avoid over 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually during its 40-year lifespan—equivalent to the emissions produced by around 15,500 cars per year.
“The energisation of Langford Solar Farm marks an important step for RWE’s solar ambitions in the UK,” said Katja Wünschel, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia. “This achievement reinforces our commitment to supporting the energy transition, with solar power playing a pivotal role in delivering secure, sustainable, and affordable energy for the future.”
The company also said the site incorporates biodiversity measures and aims to deliver a 50% net gain in habitat and 10% increase in hedgerow coverage. Features such as grassland restoration, nesting boxes and wildlife corridors have been integrated into the farm’s design.
During construction, the project supported up to 80 jobs and is expected to contribute more than £110,000 annually in local business rates. Additionally, a £40,000 community benefit grant has been provided to Cullompton Town Council to support rooftop solar and local sustainability initiatives.
RWE said Langford is the first in a series of new UK solar projects, with the company targeting up to 500MW of new capacity by the end of the year.
The development coincides with the release of the UK government’s Solar Roadmap, part of the Clean Power Action Plan, which outlines ambitions to deploy up to 47GW of solar capacity by 2030.
