Solarcentury was the UK's largest solar company.[1] Solarcentury was founded in 1998 by former oil geologist Jeremy Leggett, and had an annual turnover of £168 million in 2015–16.[1]
The company were in partnership with Panama-based private equity firm ECOSolar, and had acquired the 400MW Divisa Project in Panama.[2]
Solarcentury gave a 5% share of profits to SolarAid, a charity founded by Solarcentury in 2006, that supplies mini home-solar installations in Africa on a pay as you go basis.
Solarcentury was bought by Statkraft in November 2020 for £118 million.
History
In May 2017, the company announced that it was shifting its focus from the UK, where 85% of its business is, and pursuing £3 billion of projects in Latin America and Europe.[1]
In 2019 Solarcentury announced an eightfold increase in annual profits to £14.4 million, largely due to constructing and operating unsubsidised solar farms in southern Europe, Latin America and Africa.[3]
In November 2020, the Norwegian renewables company Statkraft announced it had acquired Solarcentury, taking full control of the company.[4]
External links
References
- Adam Vaughan. UK's biggest solar company takes shine to global projects with deals worth £3bn | Business The Guardian, 1 January 1970, retrieved 29 May 2017^
- Liam Stoker Editor, Solar Power Portal. Solarcentury bolsters Latin America business with 400MW pipeline purchase Solar Power Portal, 11 April 2017, retrieved 29 May 2017^
- Jillian Ambrose. UK solar power pioneer Solarcentury profit grows 860% in a year The Guardian, 25 July 2019, retrieved 25 July 2019^
- Pamela Barbaglia. Norwegian utility Statkraft makes $151 million swoop on Solarcentury Reuters, 2 November 2020, retrieved 2 November 2020^