New solar park helps power the North East thanks to Lombard funding boost

A new 20-acre solar park has opened in the Northeast of Scotland after securing a funding boost of nearly £2 million from Lombard, significantly boosting green energy production in the local area.

The £1.9 million funding package, which was facilitated by Lombard Asset Finance, part of the NatWest Group, has allowed Ecosse Solar Parks to install a field of state-of-the-art solar panels. Energy generated on the Forfar site will be sold back to the National Grid, bolstering the region’s clean energy supply.

Founded in 2019, Ecosse Solar Parks is the newest venture from family-run firm, Albamuir Ltd., adding to the group’s portfolio of local businesses which includes Angus Biofuels and a nearby storage facility.

Sustainability has been a leading priority since Albamuir was first established 25 years ago, from building and heating eco-friendly offices/houses to the present day producing over 6,000,000kwh of green electricity per year. The launch of the park has allowed the family to further diversify its assets by selling electricity onto the grid to generate income and in turn contribute to Net Zero targets.

Ecosse Solar Park is headed up by Angus Watson, who is building on the knowledge he gained while studying at Robert Gordon University and experience of working within the family business. 

Having project managed the build of the site from the initial concept to completion; Angus is now helping other local businesses looking to make the switch to green energy, offering advice and practical support with installation to those interested in creating their own solar park.

Talking of the new venture, Angus said: “I’ve worked within the family business for a number of years, and sustainability has always been at the forefront of everything we do.

While we were well established when it came to generating our own solar energy, building infrastructure of this scale was a completely new challenge and the support from Lombard has been invaluable. We’re now in a position where we’re able to use the experience we’ve gained to help other farmers in the local area move into green energy production.”

He added: “The solar industry is moving at such pace that the biggest challenge we faced was the risk the equipment we purchased would soon be outdated. This funding meant we could invest in the latest, most up-to-date infrastructure – allowing us to futureproof the park.”

Dale Robertson, Senior Relationship Manager at Lombard, added: “Lombard is committed to supporting enterprise in the Northeast, and Angus and his team are a great example of adopting sustainable practices while continuing to innovate and grow.

We’ve worked alongside Albamuir for over 15 years now and are delighted to support them in their latest venture, which will create a significant boost to green energy production in Forfar and the surrounding areas.

We look forward to supporting the family run firm as they keep leading the way in responsible business practices.”