Forward-thinking green energy initiative shortlisted for award

An innovative solar farm and battery storage facility in Exeter, which delivers clean energy to the city’s refuse collection vehicles has been shortlisted for yet another big award. 

Exeter City Council’s Smart Grid & Storage Project in Water Lane is one of the finalists in the 2026 APSE Energy Awards in collaboration with DESNZ. 

The Exeter initiative is one of five finalists in the Clean Energy – Power award. 

Last year the initiative triumphed in the Sustainable Impact category of the 2025 Exeter Impact Awards hosted by Exeter Chamber.  

Cllr Matt Vizard, Lead Councillor for Climate, Ecological Change and Communities, said he was delighted that the initiative had won yet more recognition: “Being shortlisted for the Clean Energy award is testament to Labour-run Exeter City Council’s ambitious climate action and commitment to reducing carbon emissions, and to the innovation and leadership the team behind this initiative has demonstrated. I am delighted for them. 

“Once again, this great initiative has won well deserved recognition.” 

The Water Lane Smart Grid & Storage project is the first of its kind in the region and delivers a further step towards the City Council’s ambition of becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030.   

Built on an inactive landfill site, the Water Lane Solar Farm feeds power directly to the Council’s nearby operations depot, powering the city’s electric refuse collection vehicles, the Materials Reclamation Facility, and offices with renewable energy.  

It features 3,700 solar panels which create 1.2MW of clean, renewable energy. The substantial battery facility is capable of storing 2MW and provides flexibility between peak generation and peak usage.   

The Water Lane Smart Grid & Storage Project includes three other sites. Battery storage and smart control facilities have been installed at the Matford Centre, John Lewis Car Park, and Riverside Leisure Centre. At Riverside, the project also delivered a 120kW rooftop solar PV array, enhancing the leisure centre’s sustainability and supporting its transition to a low-carbon, energy-efficient facility.  

“The project is not just a groundbreaking demonstrator for energy storage and fleet electrification, the benefits are shared by everyone; Reducing carbon, service costs, whilst powering electric refuse vehicles that reduce pollution and greatly improve working conditions for the refuse collection crews,” added Cllr Vizard.  

The winners of the APSE Energy Awards will be revealed at the BIG Energy Summit, taking place in Birmingham on 24 to 25 February. 

The project was part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.