The project was approved by Doncaster Council on 28 January 2025 and will help strengthen the local economy by creating jobs during the construction and operation of the facility. Credit: via Cavendish

Consent for UK’s largest BESS in Thorpe Marsh

Doncaster Council has approved the 3,100MWh battery energy storage system, located on 55-acres of former coal-fired power station land.

This will be the flagship BESS for owner and operator Fidra Energy and one of the largest systems in Europe.

Once fully operational, the site will have capacity to power up to 800,000 homes during peak electricity demand.

The BESS will be situated next to an existing National Grid substation.

A final investment decision is due in April 2025 with the first battery systems expected to be operational in early 2027.

Plans were submitted in 2022 by renewable energy, minerals, and property firm The Banks Group.

West Burton Energy then took over the project, leading it through the planning stages.

In September 2024, TotalEnergies acquired West Burton Energy’s operational business, and created BESS platform Fidra Energy.

Chris Elder, Fidra Energy’s chief executive, said: “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.”

Walid Mouawad, managing director of energy transition at EIG, owner of Fidra, said: “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.”

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