Standard Chartered backs GBP 595 million financing for the UK’s largest Battery Energy Storage System
on September 10, 202510 September 2025, London, UK – Standard Chartered is pleased to announce its role as Original Lender and Interest Rate Hedge Provider for the GBP 595 million financing of the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Doncaster, Yorkshire, UK. The financing has been provided to Thorpe Marsh Green Energy Hub Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fidra Energy which is based in Edinburgh, UK. In addition to the loan facility, the overall financing package includes equity investments from EIG, a leading investor in the global energy and infrastructure space, and the UK’s National Wealth Fund of up to GBP 445 million.
Thorpe Marsh will become the largest BESS in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. With a capacity of 1.4 GW / 3.1 GWh, it will have the potential to export over 2 million MWh annually, enough to supply about 785,000 homes each year. The project is to be built on approximately 55 acres of a former coal station site.
By storing electricity when generation exceeds demand and releasing it during peak periods, Thorpe Marsh will enhance grid reliability and flexibility, help to reduce reliance on fossil fuel plants and baseload generation, and directly contribute to the UK’s energy security and net-zero ambitions.
Construction will commence in September 2025, with the arrays set to be completed in phases, and full commercial operations targeted by Q1 2028.
Chris Elder, Fidra Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Battery energy storage has a crucial role to play in delivering clean, reliable power, storing renewable energy when it is abundant, and releasing it when generation from sources such as wind and solar is low. This displaces electricity generated by fossil fuels that would typically be used when generation from renewables is low. Reaching financial close for Thorpe Marsh is a huge achievement for Fidra Energy. Thorpe Marsh is one of the most exciting infrastructure projects in the world and a landmark transaction in the energy sector. The investment by EIG and the NWF is testament to the outstanding team at Fidra and everyone who has supported us on the project.”
James Richards, Executive Director, Infrastructure Development Finance Group, Standard Chartered said: “We are proud to support the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the UK’s largest BESS project which will strengthen grid resilience and provide a low carbon solution to help accelerate the transition to net zero. This milestone reflects the strong collaboration between our team and our partners at Fidra Energy, EIG and the National Wealth Fund, and shows how tailored, solutions-oriented financing can drive the energy transition and enhance the UK’s energy infrastructure”.
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For further information, please contact:
Julien Moity
Senior Communications Manager
Standard Chartered
Email: Julien.moity@sc.com
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