Drax buys 260MW of in-development UK BESS projects

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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.

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“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.” 

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