Updated on November 21, 2025- Plans for Britain’s largest floating solar farm is set to be accorded a green light next week.
Associated British Ports seek to establish the solar array off Cavendish Dock in Barrow.
It would cover around a third of the available water area in the dock and would be made up of around 46,500 panels. These panels will be mounted on floating pontoons which would be secured to the base of the dock by an anchoring system.
The application of this solar development will be discussed by Westmorland and Furness Council’s strategic planning committee on Monday.
According to a report that was issued to the committee, the array is expected to have a 50-year lifespan. After this period, the site would be decommissioned.
The Barrow EnergyDock development would have a generating capacity of 35-40MWp.
ABP announced plans for Barrow EnergyDock development in March this year. Also, it said if approval was granted, work would take around 12 months to create the array.
The site is used by Barrow Angling Association and other recreational users.
Associated British Ports said it consulted with the angling association to ensure any potential impacts on activities around the dock were minimised or mitigated where possible.
In another ambitious solar project in the UK, the Tillbridge Solar Project was also granted approval. The development of such renewable energy projects especially solar are in line towrdas achieving clean energy goals set by UK.
Reported on March 10, 2025
The leading port operator of UK, Associated British Ports (ABP), is taking a big step ahead with its ambitious plans at the Port of Barrow by submitting a Planning Application for a project that will become UK’s largest floating solar project, “the Barrow EnergyDock.”
This Application is seen as the first step in the realisation of the exciting plans that ABP has in place for the Port of Barrow, which have been crafted to enable growth and also strengthen the general economy of the local area. This is in accordance with their Master plan that was launched in September 2024.
Barrow EnergyDock Factsheet
Location: The Barrow EnergyDock is a proposed floating solar project located in Cavendish Dock, Port of Barrow, UK.
Developer: Associated British Ports (ABP).
Key Features:
- The solar array will have a generating capacity of approximately 40MWp.
- This is estimated to be enough to power around 14,000 homes annually.
- The energy generated is primarily intended for use by the advanced manufacturing sector in Barrow, particularly to support industries such as BAE systems.
- The array will consist of roughly 47,000 solar panels mounted on floating pontoons.
- It will cover approximately one-third of the available water area in Cavendish Dock.
- It aims to be the UK’s largest floating solar array.
Significance:
- To drive growth and strengthen the local economy, as outlined in ABP’s Port of Barrow Masterplan.
- To provide a significant source of green energy, contributing to sustainability goals.
- To help control electricity costs for the port’s advanced manufacturing sector.
- To preserve land at the port, by using the water of the dock, for operational and manufacturing uses.
Also read: Multi-Billion Pound Eastern Green Link 1 Construction Commences
According to Bryan Davies, the divisional port manager (Northwest and Scotland) ABP, mentioned that, “We are happy to see the planning application for the ambitious Barrow EnergyDock submitted, and also witness the first element of ABP’s Port of Barrow Master plan start taking shape.
The Barrow EnergyDock project will be situated at Cavendish Dock. This project will be the largest of its kind in the entire UK. This upcoming project is expected to set a stage for a major shift in the green energy capacity, primarily intended for the advanced engineering sector of Barrow.
Capacity of Barrow EnergyDock Project
The solar array will possess a generating capacity in the region that amounts to 40MWp, which is enough to power the equivalent of circa 14,000 homes annually.
The energy that will be produced by the floating solar plant will be utilized by the advanced manufacturing sector. It will also aid in controlling the overall cost of electricity at the port.
This approach of setting up floating solar at Cavendish Dock rather than ground mounted solar, is good because it will provide renewable energy while preserving the land of the port at the same time. This approach ensures that operational and manufacturing activities can keep on as they provide jobs thus supporting the wider economy.
Also read: UK’s Largest Solar PV Plant: The 600MW Cottam Solar Project
Facilitators of the Project
Furthermore, as part of the solar plant’s development process, ABP commissioned Green Cat Renewables, a consultancy for engineering and environment. This body will help ABP to deliver and develop the planning application elements of this upcoming solar project. Additionally, a couple of public consultations were conducted in 2024 autumn. These consultations provided an opportunity for the surrounding residents to ask any questions and give their opinion regarding this upcoming project.
Additionally, the marine consultancy and survey company of ABP, ABPmer, conducted a wide range of marine ecology and coastal water bird surveys and assessments. These were conducted within and the surrounding area of Cavendish Dock. According to their findings, there would be no significant impacts that would be gotten from the project’s development.
Also read: Construction Commences on Cowley Complex Biggest Solar Facility in the UK
