Forrest completes £1.5m solar installation for United Utilities

Preston-based Forrest has completed a £1.5m solar panel installation at Fleetwood Water Treatment Works (WTW) on behalf of United Utilities.

United Utilities’ treatment works in Fleetwood is one of its most energy intensive sites and the new solar system will generate over 1.1 million kWh per year to be used directly by the site.

Paul McCarren, energy director at Forrest, said: “The scale of United Utilities’ required energy consumption, combined with its commitment to meet long-term carbon targets, has led to this significant investment in their own energy generation.” Neil Carroll, energy manager at United Utilities, said: “For a business like ours, solar energy just makes sense. Our treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy and, after piloting solar power at our site in Lostock, we’ve begun to roll out solar installations across other plants to help us meet our target of halving our 2006 carbon emissions levels by 2035.”