Fidra Energy, a Scotland-based battery energy storage system (BESS) platform, has received planning consent to develop and operate its 1.4GW (3.1GWh) battery storage facility in the UK.
To be built at Thorpe Marsh in Yorkshire, the proposed BESS project is touted to become the largest of its kind in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe.
It will be developed on approximately 55 acres of land at a former coal power station site, adjacent to an existing National Grid substation.
Doncaster Council approved the battery storage project this week.
The Thorpe Marsh BESS facility is expected to boost the local economy, creating jobs during both construction and operation. It will feature lithium-ion battery systems supplied by Sungrow.
Once operational, the new British BESS facility is projected to power up to 800,000 households during peak electricity demand.
Fidra Energy CEO Chris Elder said: “Thorpe Marsh is one of the most exciting infrastructure projects in the world and we are delighted to have achieved this important milestone in its development phase.
“As the largest battery energy storage site in the UK, the project will help turbocharge the UK’s ambitions of achieving a clean power system providing critical flexibility to store energy when there is excess renewable generation and release this when needed.”
A final investment decision is expected to be taken in April 2025, with the first battery systems scheduled to come online in early 2027.
Launched by EIG in October 2024, Fidra Energy is currently developing three of the UK’s largest battery storage sites.
EIG energy transition managing director and co-head Walid Mouawad said: “We are thrilled to see the 1.4GW Thorpe Marsh project reach another critical development milestone.
“This represents a significant step in EIG’s commitment to advancing large-scale energy assets in the UK and driving the country’s shift to a more sustainable, low-carbon future.”
In November 2024, Fidra Energy signed a 4.4GWh energy storage partnership agreement with Sungrow to support its goal of establishing a 10GW BESS platform by 2030.
Under the agreement, Sungrow will deliver its liquid-cooled PowerTitan 2.0 energy storage system (ESS) for two of Fidra Energy’s UK sites.
The systems will have an initial duration of two hours, with the option to extend to four hours. Sungrow will also be responsible for long-term maintenance of both projects.
