Canadian Solar’s energy storage solutions subsidiary, e-STORAGE, will deliver 420MWh AC of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across two projects for Drax Group.
April 1, 2026
Canadian Solar closed March with the announcement of two projects and a sale, as the renewable energy provider expands its UK footprint.
Canadian Solar’s energy storage solutions subsidiary, e-STORAGE, will deliver 420MWh AC of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across two projects for Drax Group. The projects will join the renewables company’s FlexGen portfolio.
The two installations include a 60MW / 120MWh AC installation in Marfleet, England, and a 150MW / 300MWh AC installation in Neilston, Scotland. The installations are expected to begin in Q3 of 2026 and early 2027, respectively.
Lee Dawes, chief operations officer of Drax Group, said: “This is our first investment in short-duration storage, and these assets will complement our existing generation portfolio.”
“As the UK network increases its reliance on intermittent renewables, these batteries will provide secure power and help keep the lights on when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining."
Related:Drax acquires UK-based AI-enabled asset optimisation platform Flexitricity
A fully integrated and commissioned BESS will be provided by e-STORAGE – including its SolBank 3.0 batteries – and it will also oversee operations under a long-term service agreement (LTSA). This will include monitoring, performance analytics, and preventative maintenance.
According to Canadian Solar’s announcement, the goal of the arrangement with e-STORAGE is to provide “consistent operational availability” throughout the lifecycle of the projects. The company explained that this will improve grid flexibility in their respective regions and contribute to the UK’s adoption of renewable energy sources.
Apatura, a UK-based energy infrastructure company, is developing both projects, as the company specialises in digital infrastructure and large-scale BESS. Giles Hanglin, CEO of Apatura, added: “By combining our development expertise with e-STORAGE's technology and Drax's operational capability, we are delivering assets that strengthen grid security and enable more renewable power to flow onto the system."
“This collaboration with Drax and Apatura reflects our shared commitment to advancing a more flexible and resilient energy system in the UK,” Colin Parkin, president of both Canadian Solar and e-STORAGE, commented.
“Leveraging the strong foundation and operational expertise we have established in this market, we are dedicated to delivering reliable system performance and service excellence to customers across Europe."
The projects in Marfleet and Neilston are not Canadian Solar’s only recent UK developments.
Related:Rolls-Royce begins construction on 43MW BESS project in Scotland
The company additionally closed March with movement on Project Higher Witheven – a 42.5MWp solar project in Cornwall, England – through its subsidiary Recurrent Energy. Earlier in the month, the ready-to-build site was sold to investment manager Downing. By the end of March, Higher Witheven had additionally secured a Contract for Difference (CfD) in the UK government’s Allocation Round 7 (AR7) auction.
In the company’s official announcement, Ismael Guerrero, CEO of Recurrent Energy, said: “The transaction of Higher Witheven highlights our ability to originate, develop, and successfully bring high-quality renewable energy assets to market.
“Securing a CfD in AR7 further reinforces the competitiveness of our UK pipeline.”
Recurrent Energy’s announcement stated that the site was designed with considerations for long-term environmental impact and management. As such, the project was developed with biodiversity and landscaping in mind.
Higher Witheven is predicted to generate over 46,000MWh of renewable energy per year, and has an anticipated completion date of Q4 2027.
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Catie Owen
Contributing writer
Since 2019, Catie has been writing news, interviews, client content and editing magazines. In recent years, her interest in sustainability has led her to pursue renewable energy as her primary beat. Having written primarily about solar energy and storage, Catie also enjoys covering the positive human impact of renewable technology.
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