Fidra Energy has received planning consent for its 1,400 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Thorpe Marsh, Yorkshire. The approval, granted by Doncaster Council on January 28, 2025, paves the way for what will be one of the UK's largest battery storage facilities, with a total storage capacity of 3,100 MWh.
The project will feature lithium-ion battery systems supplied by Sungrow and will be developed on a 55-acre site that was once part of a coal station, located adjacent to an existing National Grid substation. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the UK's energy infrastructure, helping to address the country's need for flexible energy storage to support renewable generation.
Chris Elder, Fidra Energy's Chief Executive, 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 for the project is expected in April 2025, with the first battery systems anticipated to be operational in early 2027.
Walid Mouawad, Managing Director and Co-Head of Energy Transition at EIG, a key investor in the project, commented, “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.”
EIG is a global institutional investor with $24.5 billion in assets under management, focusing on energy and energy-related infrastructure investments worldwide. The Thorpe Marsh BESS project is expected to play a key role in enabling the UK to transition to a cleaner, more flexible energy system.
