Fidra is nearing completion on a 500-MW battery project in England.

British energy storage developer Fidra Energy has secured all necessary financing for a 500-MW/1,100-MWh battery and energy storage system (BESS) at the former West Burton coal power station site in Nottinghamshire, England.

The Edinburgh-based company announced on Friday that it intends to begin construction later this year, aiming to commence full commercial operations at the West Burton C battery by 2028. The project will be financed through internal resources, an investment from the National Wealth Fund, and new loan facilities amounting to GBP 231 million (USD 310.5m/EUR 271.4m). This debt, provided by an international lending consortium, includes a term loan and other related facilities.

West Burton C will utilize Sungrow's technology to store electricity sufficient to power approximately 300,000 homes during periods of high demand. Half of the site's capacity is secured through a long-term off-take agreement with UK power company Drax Group Plc. The operation of the BESS will also be supported by a 15-year capacity market contract awarded through a UK government tender, effective from October 2028.

H&MV Engineering will serve as the main designer and contractor for the 400-kV grid connection, also overseeing the commissioning of the Sungrow battery systems.

Owned by EIG, Fidra Energy has a battery energy storage pipeline in the UK exceeding 4 GW. The company is currently developing the UK’s largest battery, the 1.4-GW/3.1-GWh Thorpe Marsh project in Yorkshire, and recently acquired the 1-GW Enderby BESS project in central England from Innova.