Thorpe Marsh BESS Project, is one of the UK’s most ambitious BESS projects to date. Three times larger than any other BESS project currently in operation or under construction in the UK, the development will be capable of exporting more than two million MWh annually, which is enough to supply around 785,000 homes each year.
Fidra Energy who are the developers have so far secured up to £445 million($603m) of new equity investment from EIG and the UK’s National Wealth Fund (NWF). This, alongside new loan facilities totalling GBP 594 million from a club of international lenders, will fund Thorpe Marsh BESS Project.
Furthermore, with this financing in place, construction of the project will commence immediately. Additionally, the facility is expected to commence operations from mid-2027. The project will use battery systems provided by China’s Sungrow.
Project Factsheet
Name: Thorpe Marsh BESS Project
Developer: Fidra Energy, a European battery energy storage platform owned by institutional investor EIG.
Location: The project is being developed on approximately 55 acres of land. This is at the site of a former coal power station in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK.
Capacity: 1.4 GW / 3.1 GWh. This is expected to be three times larger than any other BESS project currently in operation or under construction in the UK.
Expected operation: Construction is set to begin immediately following financial close, with the facility expected to be operational starting in mid-2027.
Total funding secured: Approximately £1 billion.
Key contractors:
- Battery supply: Sungrow will supply its Power Titan 2.0 batteries.
- Grid connection: H&MV Engineering will be the principal designer and contractor for the 400kV grid connection and electrical/mechanical scheme.
- Civil works: Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK will handle the civil and drainage works.
Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has been named the lead contractor for earthworks and drainage on the Thorpe Marsh development in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. This multi-million-pound project will see the firm deliver large-scale civil engineering services.
Under the agreement, the company is set to handle over 500,000 m³ of cut-and-fill earthworks, using advanced engineering methods and rigorous testing procedures, while making use of existing pulverised fly ash on site.
A workforce of around 60 people, including apprentices and trainees, will also install nearly 4 km of deep surface-water drainage for Fidra Energy, which aims to bring the facility into operation by mid-2027.
According to senior contract manager Dafydd Elis, battery energy storage plays a crucial role in the UK’s transition to renewable power, helping to stabilise the grid as more renewables are added. He noted that Jones Bros is already engaged on several such schemes and is excited to contribute to what is expected to be the UK’s largest and one of Europe’s leading battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.
Together, these facilities could supply up to 11 per cent of the extra storage capacity required to meet the government’s Clean Power 2030 target.
Developers
Fidra is also partnering with H&MV Engineering and Jones Bros., Civil Engineering UK, on the delivery of mega battery project. Furthermore, Fidra has secured long-term offtake with EDF, Octopus Energy and Statkraft for around 80% of Thorpe Marsh Battery Project capacity. Also, in March 2025, the project also won a 15-year capacity market award from the UK government.
Significance of the Project
Thorpe Marsh will stand as the largest standalone BESS project funded globally. Also, it will be the largest BESS financing in Europe. Additionally, it will join Matrix’s Eccles and Kilmarnock BESS projects in Scotland, England in fostering UK energy transition.
“It is impressive to see the National Wealth Fund breathing new life into a former coal site by turning it into a cutting-edge battery hub. Additionally, this battery hub will power thousands of British homes and businesses with clean energy from both wind and solar,” stated the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
