The UK’s largest community owned solar power plant has been commissioned, exporting at 20% of its capacity. The 42MWp Derril Water Solar Farm, developed by RES before being sold to a cooperative in 2023, at which time Ripple Energy managed the coop. Consumers purchased a share of the solar farm and receive discounts on their energy bills according to the amount of renewable energy produced by their share. According to an email seen by Solar Power Portal, National Grid Energy Distribution (NGED) engineers completed G99 tests on 4 September, at which time the project began exporting at 20%. Related:Bluefield clinches consent for four solar and BESS projectsCommunity solar paymentsMembers also heard that the coop will receive the ‘first set of generation money’ available at the beginning of January 2026.