Centrica and Push Power have switched on an 18-megawatt solar farm in the East of England, enough to supply around 5,500 homes a year. The project, located near Peterborough, connects directly to the local distribution network and began exporting power last month.
As reported by Renewables Now, the site uses bifacial panels mounted on single-axis trackers, which follow the sun to boost output by up to 15% compared with fixed arrays. Centrica will buy the electricity under a long-term power purchase agreement.
What this means for household bills
The average UK household pays about 27p per kWh under the current price cap. Utility-scale solar now generates electricity at roughly 4–6p per kWh, a fraction of the retail rate. Every megawatt-hour of solar that displaces gas-fired generation reduces the wholesale price that feeds into Ofgem’s cap calculation.
But the effect on a single bill is small. Cornwall Insight estimates that each additional gigawatt of solar shaves about 0.5% off the wholesale price. An 18-MW farm contributes roughly 0.02% of that. The real benefit comes from scale: the UK now has over 17 GW of solar capacity, and the government targets 70 GW by 2035.
The catch is that bill savings from utility solar are indirect and lagged. Households on standard variable tariffs will see the impact only when Ofgem updates the price cap every three months. Those on fixed deals may not see it at all until renewal.
Rooftop solar remains the faster route for homeowners
For the typical homeowner, a 4 kW rooftop system costs around £6,000–£8,000 and can cut annual electricity bills by £300–£500, depending on orientation and usage. The Smart Export Guarantee pays 5–15p per kWh for surplus power exported to the grid, not enough to cover the installation cost quickly, but a useful top-up.
EPC ratings also benefit. A solar PV installation can lift an EPC band from D to C, adding roughly 5–10 points on the Standard Assessment Procedure scale. That matters for selling a home or meeting minimum energy-efficiency standards for rental properties from 2028.
Yet planning rules and grid connection delays still hamper domestic solar. Energy Saving Trust notes that only about 5% of UK homes have solar panels, compared with 15% in Germany. The government’s Smart Export Guarantee review, expected later this year, may raise minimum payment rates and stimulate more installations.
Grid capacity and local resilience
Large solar farms like this one help relieve congestion on the transmission network by generating power close to where it is used. The East of England has some of the highest solar penetration in the UK, and local distribution network operators have had to upgrade substations to handle the influx.
For homeowners considering a heat pump or electric vehicle charger, a stronger local grid means fewer upgrade costs. Distribution network operators now charge up to £5,000 for a new connection in constrained areas. More distributed generation reduces that risk.
But the government’s Clean Power 2030 plan requires grid capacity to double. Without faster planning approvals and network investment, even large projects face years of delays. Centrica’s farm took two years from planning to operation, about average for a site of this size.
What to do now: Households on standard variable tariffs should monitor the next price cap announcement in August 2025. Those considering rooftop solar can get quotes through the Energy Saving Trust or MCS-certified installers. The Smart Export Guarantee tariff comparison tool on Ofgem’s website shows current rates by supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not directly. Utility-scale solar lowers wholesale electricity prices, which Ofgem uses to set the price cap every three months. The effect is small, roughly 0.02% for an 18-MW farm, but cumulative as more solar comes online. Your individual bill will not show a line item for this project.
No. Rooftop solar gives you direct control over your energy costs and improves your home's EPC rating. Installation costs have fallen by about 40% in the past decade, and the Smart Export Guarantee provides a small income. Waiting for grid-scale solar delays your personal savings and carbon reduction.
