Major Solar Milestone Reached at Port of Liverpool

Multinational energy company E.ON and the Peel Ports Group have reached a significant milestone at the Port of Liverpool as they successfully launch commercial operations for the first phase of a 25MW rooftop solar array at the Alexandra Dock warehouse, part of the Peel Ports Group’s operations in its home city of Liverpool.

Almost 7,000 (6,926) solar panels have been installed on the warehouse known as the ‘Alex Shed’ and have now been connected to the grid. This is just the first phase of an ambitious project that will see up to 48,000 solar panels installed across many more buildings at the Port of Liverpool. The installation of the new solar panels on the nearly 260,000-square-foot Alexandra Dock warehouse is part of a major sustainability programme at the Port, making it one of the largest roof-mounted solar arrays in the UK. All work has been completed within the existing port footprint, making the most of the available roof space. Impact on the local community has been kept to a minimum with all equipment and materials transported to the port by sea. 

Back in 2024, the Peel Ports Group said it expected the entire portfolio to be operational by mid-2026, although at that time, the portfolio was said to have a total capacity of 31MW, which has since been downgraded. Once complete, the facility is anticipated to be one of the largest rooftop solar projects in the UK and is expected to deliver 25MW of electricity, fulfilling around one quarter of the Port of Liverpool’s annual electricity demand and matching the yearly consumption of around 10,000 average UK homes, based on average UK home electricity consumption of 2,700 kWh.

The project is part of a 25-year, agreement between Peel Ports Group and E.ON, with the latter financing and delivering the project. E.ON has also committed to employing local contractors for installation and ongoing maintenance throughout the 25-year agreement. The project is set to cut CO2e emissions by 4,700 tonnes each year, which is equivalent to over 11.7 million miles driven by an average passenger vehicle or approximately 3,100 return flights from London to New York (based on an estimated 1.5 tonnes of CO2e per passenger). CO2e emissions are a combination of all greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons and other gases. The grid connection represents a key strategic objective for the Peel Ports Group which is working towards meeting half of its electricity demand with renewable energy by the end of the decade. The rooftop solar installation will play a leading role in helping Peel Ports Group achieve its net zero emissions goal by 2040.

Lewis MacIntyre, managing director of port services at the Peel Ports Group said:

“By transforming our warehouse rooftops into clean energy assets, we’re taking practical, large-scale action to decarbonise a critical national gateway which enables regional trade and economic growth. We are proud to be an industry leader in decarbonising port operations, having recently reported a 48% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse emissions across the group, in just five years. This project demonstrates how ports can lead the transition to renewable energy by maximising existing infrastructure, working with trusted partners like E.ON, and delivering long-term benefits for our customers, local communities and the environment as we progress towards our net zero target by 2040.”

Vijay Tank, Chief Operating Officer of E.ON Energy Solutions, said: 

“The Port of Liverpool is a critical national infrastructure site, and decarbonising places like this is essential for the UK’s environmental and economic targets. The first grid connection of this major solar project is a big leap towards creating a clean energy system fit for the future. We’ve been energy partners of the Peel Ports Group for more than two decades and I’m extremely proud of our relationship and their continued trust in our ability to collaborate further in meeting their future energy ambitions.”

Last year, Tom Hutchison, CEO of Montrose Port Authority in Scotland, told PV Tech Premium that securing clean power is a priority for the UK’s port industry, and that the long-term goal is to be involved in the generation of on-site clean electricity, rather than having to buy power from an external supplier.

Tom Hutchinson said at the Clean Power 2030 Summits:

“It’s good that it’s a guaranteed green source from the grid, but going forward, in the future, it only makes sense if we manage to be a bit more autonomous, if you like, and start generating our own energy.” 

Several UK ports have invested in clean energy projects since the Clean Power Summits and are already seeing returns. Last July, the Portsmouth International Port reported that the installation of a 1.2MW rooftop solar project had cut its energy bills by almost £140,000. On sunny days, the port can run completely off-grid, and the installation met 21% of the site’s electricity demand over the past year. 

In November 2025, BW ESS announced plans to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Marchwood Industrial Park in Southampton, partnering with Associated British Ports (ABP) to boost energy resilience.