Solarcentury

Solarcentury was a prominent global solar power company established in 1998 with a mission to make solar power the dominant energy source to combat climate change. It was founded by Jeremy Leggett, a former oil geologist turned climate campaigner and social entrepreneur. Leggett's journey is one of significant transformation; after a decade researching earth sciences funded by major energy companies like BP and Shell, he became concerned about global warming and joined Greenpeace as a climate campaigner before founding Solarcentury. This background provided him with a unique perspective, blending deep energy sector knowledge with a strong environmental purpose.

The company operated as a developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale solar projects and smart technology. Its business model was vertically integrated, covering the entire project lifecycle from design and construction to ownership and operation, including managing financial aspects like power purchase agreements (PPAs). Solarcentury served a diverse client base, including businesses for rooftop installations, and worked with retailers, utilities, and housing providers to deliver solar to residential customers. The company was known for developing and building large-scale solar projects in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Kenya, and Mexico. A landmark achievement was the construction of the world's first solar bridge at Blackfriars Station in London. Demonstrating a commitment to social impact, Solarcentury allocated 5% of its net profits to SolarAid, a charity Leggett founded in 2006 to help eradicate kerosene lamps in Africa by providing solar lighting solutions.

After 22 years of operation, during which its projects generated 6 TWh of clean electricity, Solarcentury was acquired by the Norwegian state-owned utility Statkraft in November 2020 for £117.7 million. At the time of the acquisition, Solarcentury had a substantial 6 GW solar pipeline in Europe and South America. The acquisition was a strategic move for Statkraft to ramp up its capabilities as a leading global renewable energy developer. Following the acquisition, the Solarcentury brand was officially retired in May 2021, and its team and operations were fully integrated into Statkraft. The African division, however, continues to operate as Solarcentury Africa, developing solar PV and storage projects across the continent.

Keywords: Solarcentury, Jeremy Leggett, solar power development, utility-scale solar, renewable energy, solar project developer, solar construction, solar financing, PPA, solar asset management, Blackfriars Solar Bridge, Statkraft acquisition, SolarAid, European solar market, Latin America solar, UK solar industry, solar smart technology, commercial solar, residential solar, solar farm operation, clean energy transition, climate change solutions