Lisburn man Nick Boyle sells solar business Lightsource to BP

Lightsource's chief executive Nick Boyle is originally from Lisburn

A solar power business founded by a County Down businessman has been sold to BP for £254m.

London-based Lightsource was founded in 2010 by Nick Boyle, who is still the firm's chief executive.

Energy giant BP first invested in the business in 2017 and has now bought full control.

Mr Boyle, who is originally from Lisburn, owns the majority of the outstanding stake which is being acquired by BP.

Lightsource develops solar farms and one of its earliest projects was a scheme which generates electricity for Belfast International Airport.

Mr Boyle, a graduate of Ulster University, founded Lightsource after a successful career in financial services.

He grew Lightsource to be one of Europe's biggest solar developers with projects in 19 countries.

BP said it intends to continue growing the business.

"We will continue to scale this successful business, and also apply its capabilities and expertise to help meet BP's growing demand for low carbon power from our transition growth engines," the company's executive vice president for gas and low-carbon energy Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath said.