Planning and Development by Southwest Solar Parks Ltd
SJ1 Renewables delivered this project in partnership with our long-standing client, Southwest Solar Parks Ltd (SWSP).
SWSP completed all pre-construction development work, including the grid upgrade application, planning permissions, and land lease agreements.
We became involved at the final design and specification stage of this “spade-ready” and fully funded project.
Solar PV System Design Using PVSyst
SJ1 Renewables was responsible for designing a system that aligned with the planning permission criteria.
Using PVSyst—a professional solar system design tool—we created a layout that met the physical size constraints of the permitted area, while staying within the maximum capacity allowed by the grid connection offer.
Procurement and Installation of the 543 kWp Solar Array
Once our detailed design was approved by all parties, we developed a full technical specification.
This covered everything from the high-voltage single-line diagrams for the 11 kV grid connection, to the low-voltage switchgear, field-mounted AC/DC inverters, and the final DC array layout.
Based on our specifications, we selected suppliers for the components that SJ1 Renewables would not deliver in-house.
These included major electrical components such as the transformer, LV switchgear, GRP housing, ABB inverters, and Tier 1 PV panels.
We also selected a British-manufactured, dual-post mounting system and placed the steel order early, as it had one of the longest lead times.
With all components ordered, the project timeline was fixed.
SJ1 Renewables coordinated both internal and third-party installation teams sequentially.
Project Outcome
The project was completed on time, within budget, and—most importantly—to a high standard.
Our partners at Southwest Solar Parks were pleased to have the system up and running by January.
In good time for significant tariff changes scheduled for March.
“SJ1 Renewables delivered a well-managed project, on time and on budget. Their ability to combine technical understanding with clear project execution made them a reliable delivery partner”.
Dr Chris Bale – Executive Director of South West Solar Parks
Ongoing Collaboration
Since this successful collaboration, we have continued to develop additional sites with the SWSP team, working closely to design systems that meet planning, environmental, and grid requirements—ready for construction. Check out our latest project together here