Drax buys 260MW of in-development UK BESS projects

November 4, 2025
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

UK power generator Drax is set to acquire three BESS projects from York-based developer Apatura, with a combined capacity of 260MW.

Under the terms of the agreement, Drax will pay £157.2 million in phased instalments between 2025 and 2028, tied to construction milestones and Apatura’s project delivery.

The acquisition of the first two battery energy storage system (BESS) projects is expected to close in 2025, with the third set for completion in the first quarter of 2026. It is the firm’s first entry into the BESS space.

According to the firm, the 260MW, two-hour duration (520MWh) BESS portfolio spans two sites in Scotland and one in North England, with construction slated for 2026 and the first site due online in 2027.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“This acquisition is our first investment in short-duration storage as part of our FlexGen portfolio,” said Will Gardiner, CEO, Drax Group. “In combination with our long-duration energy storage, flexible generation and renewable generation from biomass, we will be able to provide 4.4GW of dispatchable generation to meet demand.” 

See the full original version of this article on our sister site Solar Power Portal.

13 October 2026
London, UK
Now in its second edition, the Summit provides a dedicated platform for UK & Ireland’s BESS community to share practical insights on performance, degradation, safety, market design and optimisation strategies. As storage deployment accelerates towards 2030 targets, attendees gain the tools needed to enhance returns and operate resilient, efficient assets.

Read Next

February 16, 2026
The UK just saw its biggest year of grid-scale battery storage deployments, but planning barriers “threaten to stall momentum,” according to one expert.
February 11, 2026
Netherlands-based iron-air long-duration energy storage (LDES) startup Ore Energy has completed a grid-connected pilot of its 100-hour iron-air LDES system at EDF Lab les Renardières in France.
Premium
February 11, 2026
Owner-operator Fidra Energy came out of virtually nowhere to be building one of Europe’s largest BESS in the UK, the 1.4GW/3.1GWh Thorpe Marsh project. We catch up with CEO Chris Elder, about its strategy and projects but also broader BESS and clean energy financing trends.
February 10, 2026
Energy infrastructure platform Revera Energy has completed an expanded US$150 million credit facility to accelerate development and construction of its battery storage, solar, and green hydrogen project pipeline across Australia and the UK.
February 9, 2026
Europe’s energy storage market has hit a turning point. What was once a scattered, early-phase market featuring pilot projects and daring developers has swiftly evolved into a dynamic, capital-intensive infrastructure sector, writes Wood Mackenzie research associate Cecilie Kristiansen.