Schroders Greencoat funds have acquired the BESS, while Renewable Connections has planning consent for a solar plant in Nottinghamshire.
June 22, 2026
Rivington Energy, the parent company of UK developer Renewable Connections, has sold a 50MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to funds managed by Schroders Greencoat.
The BESS, in Yarnton, Oxfordshire, received planning approval in June last year. It will export up to 49.9MW, and import 40MW, a slight reduction on the 52MW capacity it was pitched as by Renewable Connections, which developed the project.
Schroders acquired the site through a locally-focused renewable infrastructure fund for Local Government Pension Scheme members, called Wessex Gardens.
The companies state that the site has a near-term grid connection date and construction will begin in 2027. As of 11 June, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) had issued firm grid connection offers for over half of the capacity due to come online before 2030.
Out of the 1,223 projects in Gate 2 Phase 1, developers of 713 projects now know when and where they will connect, and what network upgrades are needed to enable this. With that certainty, projects can progress and should become more attractive assets for acquisition or investment, as seen in this acquisition with a near-term date likely a key selling point.
Related:IPP Elgin launches construction on 112MW of solar PV across England and Wales
The sale of the Yarnton BESS was announced shortly after Renewable Connections received planning consent for an 18.74MW solar PV plant in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. 
Shireoaks Solar Farm was approved by Bassetlaw District Council’s planning committee on 17^th June. It will cover about 21 hectares of agricultural land, with Renewable Connections chief operating officer Jonathan Plumb noting that the developer has planned measures to enhance biodiversity at the site. 
Construction activity, according to the project website, is due to begin this year. There is no mention of a grid connection date. 
With the government’s Clean Power 2030 target fast approaching, whether enough capacity will be able to be built out in time is increasingly uncertain. 
At the Clean Power 2030 Summit, hosted by our publisher Solar Media, industry representatives and policymakers alike will be discussing that question. An opening panel will provide a status update, but also address the actionable ways to accelerate progress. 
Our readers can receive 20% off with the code SPP20. Book a ticket to be part of the conversation.
Read more about:
Molly Green
Section Editor, Informa
Molly joined the team in 2024 and has led coverage on the UK sites. Now shifting to a more global view, Molly is interested in how legislation shapes market dynamics, covering the intersection of policy design, investment patterns, and energy transition pathways. 
Google Preferred Source
Google Preferred Source
Copyright © 2026 All rights reserved. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC.

source