The 362.79kWp solar PV system at LOFC consists of 834 JA 435-watt panels and three 110kW Growatt inverters. According to managing director Sandip Sali, third-party funding from Horizon was “instrumental” in Ampergia’s expansion.
Horizon funds sustainable infrastructure projects under a flexible financing model that allows customers to undertake installations without facing the upfront capital expenditure they usually require.
Once project details are shared, a lease-based model is drawn up according to the client’s needs. Horizon Energy Ventures is a portfolio company of Arcus Infrastructure Partners, a European infrastructure investment broker. Its sister company, Horizon Energy Infrastructure provides smart meter technology for properties in the UK, partnering with utilities including Octopus Energy for Business.
Horizon Energy Ventures is also exploring other adjacent technology financing opportunities with domestic and business energy suppliers, including EV charging infrastructure, decarbonised heat, energy storage and microgrid development.
Head of commercial at Horizon, Ryan O’Connell, said the collaboration with Ampergia shows how the right financial support can deliver ambitious sustainability projects. Steve Tait, LOFC’s chief operating officer, added that the project went “seamlessly”.
Football clubs on a solar kick
Recently, Ameresco announced it would install, operate and maintain a solar PV system at London Stadium, former Olympic venue and current home of Premier League team West Ham United. Project leaders claimed the solar system’s 1,256kWp capacity would be enough to power all of the stadium’s major events each year. The installation is set to be completed by summer 2025.
When the project was first explored, it was expected to cost around £4 million over a two-year period with the stadium’s owner London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) hoping to generate energy by the end of 2024.
In March, Premier League champion Manchester City unveiled plans to install 10,887 solar modules at its state-of-the-art City Football Academy training facility. It is seeking planning approval from the Manchester City Council to install the panels, capable of generating up to 4.39GWh of renewable energy each year.
A high-profile development was the 2017 partnership between Octopus Energy and Arsenal, in which the energy supplier would power the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium through its significant array of solar farms.
