Under the agreement, EDF will provide route-to-market services for Fidra Energy and help ensure the two battery units are used effectively.

Battery energy storage system (BESS) developer Fidra Energy and utility EDF have signed a long-term optimisation agreement for two battery units at the Thorpe Marsh project in Yorkshire.

Set to become the UK’s largest BESS project, with a capacity of 1.4GW/3.1GWh, EDF will optimise two large battery units which will provide 560MW of storage.

Under the agreement, EDF will provide route-to-market services and help ensure the two battery units are used effectively. The company will use its in-house Powershift platform for the two units while giving the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) fast and flexible back-up power.

Construction of the Thorpe Marsh BESS project is expected to begin this year, while operations are set to begin in 2027. The project will be located in a former coal power station and next to a major National Grid substation.

Chinese energy storage system provider Sungrow will supply its liquid-cooled Power-Titan 2.0 BESS units for the project. The supply agreement signed between Fidra Energy and Sungrow in November 2024 also covers another project, the West Burton C BESS, a 500MW/1GWh project set to begin construction in 2026.

Stuart Fenner, wholesale market services, commercial director at EDF, said: “Battery storage is vital for a flexible and reliable electricity system. Thorpe Marsh will help the UK make better use of renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Our Powershift platform is designed to unlock the full value of battery assets while supporting the stability of the grid.”

This follows Fidra Energy’s financial close of the project earlier this week. The BESS developer secured up to £445 million in new equity investment from institutional investor EIG, which launched Fidra Energy last year, and the UK’s National Wealth Fund (NWF).

The project also secured loan facilities of £594 million from several international banks, including ABN Amro, China Minsheng, CIBC, Deutsche Bank AG, Investec Bank, MUFG, Natwest, Nord LB, Santander CIB, Siemens Bank through Siemens Financial Services, SMBC, Société Générale, and Standard Chartered Bank.

Fidra Energy was launched in October 2024 with a 3.15GW development pipeline in the UK, while the company targeted to have 10GW of BESS projects across the UK and Europe by 2030.

More information:https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/battery-storage/edf-fidra-energy-sign-long-term-optimisation-uk-largest-bess-project