Climate finance advisor Cero Generation has successfully closed an innovative £200 million ($268.3 million) financing package. This funding will deliver an independent and integrated portfolio of new solar plus battery energy storage system (BESS) projects across the United Kingdom. The financing, secured in collaboration with Enso Energy, marks a significant step forward in the development of renewable energy infrastructure in the region.
The portfolio contains the Bramley project, a significant effort that includes a co-located 115 megawatt (MW) solar and storage facility. Two additional projects are nearly ready to come online. Combined, they will bring an impressive 245 MW capacity of battery BESS energy storage systems and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy to the region. This trend is in step with the growing public and political appetite for sustainable, reliable and locally-produced energy in the UK.
Previous Achievements in Spain
Cero Generation’s recent success is not restricted to the UK. Last August, the firm announced financial closure on a portfolio of solar plants in Palencia, Spain. These projects are particularly notable for their total capacity of a whopping 244.7 megawatts peak. To add to their appeal, they’re backed by a consortium of highly regarded lenders, including Banco Sabadell, Rabobank, and ING.
In Spain, EDF has already been awarded to provide optimization and route-to-market services for the solar PV projects. LONGi will be providing the solar modules, and Sungrow will be supplying the BESS solutions. In this instance, Metlen will act as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, while Omexom will be responsible for managing grid works.
Future Prospects for UK Projects
Indicating a grim state of affairs in hindsight, construction on the Bramley site won’t even start until autumn 2025. So, we plan to bring on roughly 80 construction staff for the PEL. Each of the three projects in this portfolio have achieved full alignment with the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities. This accomplishment underscores their strong dedication to environmental stewardship.
Marta Martinez Queimadelos, CEO of Cero Generation, welcomed the news of this milestone with enthusiasm.
“This milestone reflects our continued commitment to UK solar and our ambition to deliver projects that meet the highest environmental standards, including EU taxonomy alignment.” – Marta Martinez Queimadelos, Cero Generation CEO
Bill Rees, managing director of Enso Energy, addressed the need for a flexible, clean energy infrastructure to be developed in the UK.
“The UK urgently needs flexible, clean energy infrastructure, and this portfolio – totalling 360MW of co-located solar and storage – represents a major step forward. It’s exciting for us at Enso Energy to see these sites that we developed reach this important milestone. It shows what’s possible when you combine deep development expertise with a shared commitment to sustainability, community benefit and technical ambition.” – Bill Rees, Enso Energy managing director