Clean Power Developer AGR Renewables has acquired a portfolio that has acquired from 70 MW of solar capacity and 100 MW battery energy storage systems (BESS), from colleague developer Cambridge Power.
The portfolio consists of two projects, a 70 MW solar project together with a 50 MW Bess, next to a standing 50MW Bess. Both projects are near Eaton Socon, in Bedfordshire, and AGR expects to start construction in the third quarter of this year. Of the solar capacity of the portfolio, 49.9 MW will be sold to the British grid, and AGR said that the combination of solar and storage projects “will offer support for national raster stability”.
“The acquisition of Eaton Socon marks an important milestone in AGR’s growth story,” said Oliver Bread, founder of AGR Renewables. “Together with our shareholders, AGR is planning to deliver the projects in accordance with the purpose of supplying 500 MW operational solar and 1GW from Bess -Activa by the end of 2026.”
AGR also noted that the projects will yield positive environmental benefits-including a net profit for biodiversity in the solar project of more than 100% and a net profit of 71% in the Co-located currency and “generating opportunities for work” for the locals.
Cambridge Power first protected a building permit for the Bess part of the portfolio in 2023And batteries have become an integral part of the work of the company in the UK. In recent years, the company has announced developments in battery projects in Leeds And EssexBecause the UK seems to be dramatically enhancing its operational battery capacity in the coming years.
During this year’s Energy Storage Summit, organized by Zonnemedia in London, Mike Thompson, chief economist at the National Energy System Operator (NESO), called on the country to deliver a “Herculean” effort To expand its battery sector to achieve the wider clean goals of the UK. He said that by 2030 to 27 GW battery capacity, the UK should use, compared to the 4.6 GW capacity that was in operation from last June.
“That goes [to have to be] 2.5GW to perhaps a little more than 3GW of storage additives per year in the UK every year until 2030, and in addition to that more long -term energy storage (LDES), distributed storage and other sources of flexibility, “Thompson said earlier this year.
