Wokingham borough council’s executive is preparing to push ahead with the Barkham Solar Farm contract this summer, aiming for a September 2027 launch despite national grid reform uncertainties.
It will consider a key progress report on the Barkham Solar Farm at its meeting on July 30. The report recommends noting that senior officers are moving forward with contract awards to secure the renewable energy scheme’s delivery.
The project was paused in January 2026 after sweeping national electricity connection reforms by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) threatened to delay full grid access until between 2031 and 2035.
However, following months of negotiations with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), and NESO, council officers have established a viable path forward.
Located on council-owned farmland north of California Country Park – between Barkham, Finchampstead, and Arborfield – the solar farm is a cornerstone of the borough’s climate strategy.
Critical milestones ahead
SSEN Contract Variation: An offer confirming a non-firm connection date of September 2027 is expected imminently, with a strict 28-day acceptance window.
Equans Construction Contract: Preferred contractor Equans has submitted its best and final offer under the pre-construction service agreement (PCSA). The council has a six-week window ending the week commencing August 17 2026 to accept or decline.
Firm Grid Connection: NESO is expected to issue a formal variation offer by November 2026, which could grant a firm connection as early as 2029 following wider network upgrades.
Despite national grid constraints, updated financial modeling shows the business case remains exceptionally strong.
The site is expected to generate an average annual net surplus exceeding £1 million across its 40-year lifespan.
Even under conservative scenarios where full connection is delayed to 2035, net returns remain far above the £200,000 annual minimum threshold mandated by full council in 2021.
Technical assessments indicate network export restrictions will be minimal in early years (around 0.04% to 0.06% through 2029).
Generating over 28.5 million kWh annually, the project directly supports Wokingham’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Deputy chief executive Graham Ebers, in consultation with executive lead member for finance and governance, Cllr Imogen Shepherd-Dubey, intends to exercise delegated powers to award the contract.
As outlined in the executive report, waiting for full contractual certainty from grid operators would force the council past Equans’ mid-August deadline.
This would expose the project to inflationary cost increases and delay energisation from September 2027 to Spring 2028, missing out on roughly six months of clean energy generation and revenue.
The report concludes: “The key issue at this stage is therefore not one of scheme viability, but rather the balance between accepting a known and understood residual connection risk, or accepting the financial and programme consequences associated with delaying contract award.”
The report was reviewed by the overview and management scrutiny committee on July 13 2026 prior to going before the executive.
