West Sussex County Council is preparing to roll out a series of new energy projects in 2026, including a 16MW battery storage site, additional solar PV and battery systems on schools and public buildings, and a new fund to support efficiency upgrades across its estate.
The projects form part of the authority’s wider efforts to expand local clean energy generation while reducing energy costs and cutting emissions from council buildings.
Among the largest schemes due to come online this year is the Halewick Lane Energy Park, a 16MW battery storage system being developed with Enable Infrastructure on a former waste site. Once operational, the system will store electricity when supply is high and release it when renewable generation is lower, helping to support a grid facing growing demand from technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles.
The council is also continuing its rollout of solar PV and battery systems across schools and corporate buildings. More than 70 solar PV systems have already been installed at schools in West Sussex, and a new three-year programme is now underway to add systems to around 60 further sites. The next phase will cover eight locations, including schools, libraries and fire stations.
Alongside new generation and storage capacity, the authority is also launching an Energy Reinvestment Fund to back measures such as insulation and low-energy lighting. The aim is to reduce long-term energy use across schools and council buildings, with the savings generated helping to fund further projects over time.
According to the council, its existing energy projects generate around 17 MWh of green electricity each year – enough to power more than 6,300 homes – while also providing a net annual income of more than £2 million through reduced electricity costs and power exported to the grid.
Cllr Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, noted, “I am delighted to see these new projects come to fruition. They are excellent examples of our support for the transition to clean, green energy and show how seriously we take our commitment to protecting the environment.
“As with all our energy projects, these new initiatives are also built on sound financial foundations to ensure the county council can recover capital outlay and, where appropriate, deliver a return on investment, as seen through our 2 solar farms.”
