JLR Powers Ahead with Major Solar Energy Expansion in UK

Gaydon, UK – 20 August 2025: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has marked a key step in its renewable energy transition with the launch of a large-scale solar farm at its Gaydon headquarters, part of a wider global sustainability strategy.

The 26-hectare facility, equivalent to up to 36 football pitches, has an 18MW capacity and will supply up to 31% of the site’s energy needs. The Gaydon project is the first of three major UK solar developments by the company. Alongside the clean energy push, JLR has integrated ecological measures by planting native wildflowers beneath and between the panels, and restoring hedgerows with species designed to support birds and pollinators. The initiative aims to deliver a biodiversity uplift significantly above regulatory requirement.

Further progress is expected this autumn at the company’s Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre (EPMC) in Wolverhampton, where an expanded rooftop installation featuring more than 18,000 panels will be completed. Once operational, the 10.7MW system will become the largest rooftop solar array in the UK automotive sector, generating around 9,512 MWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 3,500 homes. Combined with its existing capacity, the installation will meet almost 40% of the site’s energy needs, supporting the production of electric drive units and batteries for the next generation of vehicles.

JLR’s sustainability drive extends beyond the UK. Its Chinese joint venture, CJLR, has recently completed a 20MW expansion of its rooftop solar facilities. Operational since May 2025, the system now supplies more than half of the plant’s monthly energy consumption, while also reducing costs and improving workshop conditions through additional shading.

Looking ahead, 2026 will see the installation of over 10MW of solar car ports at JLR’s Merseyside site, set to become the UK’s largest such project. Plans include canopy structures across Halewood, as well as solar walkways linking car parks to site entrances. The development will provide on-site charging for employees’ and visitors’ electric vehicles, alongside covered parking and weather protection.

The company has set a target to source at least one-third of its global energy needs from onsite and near-site renewables by 2030. JLR says this shift will help cut emissions, boost energy resilience, and shield operations from energy market volatility. So far, the company reports a 23.4% reduction in operational emissions compared with its FY19/20 baseline, achieved through a combination of renewable energy adoption and efficiency measures.