Independent energy producer Cero Generation and developer Enso Energy have reached financial close on a 78MW solar plus storage project in Doncaster.
The Bumble Bee project will be combined with a 120 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), with construction expected to begin in the coming months. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the solar-plus-storage project will be carried out by Greek developer Metlen, while Chinese manufacturers JA Solar and Sungrow will supply the solar panels and BESS containers respectively.
A financial close has been reached with a group of lenders including ING, NORD/LB, Rabobank and Santander UK.
This is the second project financed through the joint venture between the two companies. following the financial close of a 360 MW solar plus storage portfolio last summer. One of three solar PV and BESS projects to reach financial completion last summer is the 115MW Bramley project in Hampshire, currently under construction.
The partnership between the two companies – who formed a joint venture in 2020 – aims to build 1 GW of solar and energy storage projects in England and Wales.
“This project also shows why co-location is essential. By building parallel solar and battery storage behind one grid connection, we deliver more capacity, faster and more efficiently, exactly what CP30 is intended to achieve,” said Bill Rees, Managing Director of Enso Energy.
In addition, revenues for part of the battery have been secured through a ten-year toll agreement with utility company Engie. This is the first tolling agreement Cero has signed, and according to the company, the first for a co-located asset in Britain. Under the agreement, the utility will optimize battery capacity of 70 MW/140 MWh.
Utility EDF will provide optimization services for the remainder of the battery and route-to-market services for the solar.
