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posted 17th December 2025
Client: Custom Solar
Custom Solar partnered with Spirafix to deliver a reliable foundation for the UK’s largest solar parking canopy project at Portsmouth’s Lakeside North Harbour. The business park, owned by Portsmouth City Council, now hosts 8,545 solar panels generating clean energy. This includes 1,820 roof-mounted panels and 7,105 panels installed above car parking spaces, forming solar canopies. EV charging points have also been installed, with infrastructure ready for future expansion.
Testing and specification
The Lakeside project required an anchoring system capable of supporting thousands of panels and withstanding all weather conditions. Solar carports present unique engineering challenges—they are fully exposed to wind from every direction, demanding a robust and secure foundation. Following verification load testing Spirafix anchors were specified for their proven strength and reliability, ensuring long-term stability for the structures.
Installation and implementation
Spirafix ground anchors were installed across the site to secure the carport structures. The installation process was fast and minimally disruptive, which was essential for an active business park with 55 companies. The completed system will generate approximately 4,000 MWh annually, enough to power over 1,300 homes and meet around 40% of the site’s electricity needs. It will also prevent more than 900 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, supporting Portsmouth City Council’s Net Zero targets. On sunny days, excess energy is fed back into the grid.
The Lakeside project has been recognised as Commercial Project of the Year at the Solar and Storage Live Awards—one of the largest installations of its kind in the UK. Spirafix is proud to have provided the critical underground infrastructure that assisted Custom Solar in making this achievement possible.
