Leading UK renewables developer OnPath Energy has successfully achieved financial close on the Common Farm Solar Park in South Yorkshire, its first co-located solar energy and battery storage project.

Financial Close Achieved on First Co-Located Project

NatWest provided project financing for the combined asset, with the long-term agreement including a term loan and other ancillary facilities to support the project throughout its construction and operational life. Burges Salmon provided legal advice to OnPath Energy on the deal, with AECOM providing technical advice.

Kristofer Gibson, Director, Infrastructure & Project Finance at NatWest, commented: "We are pleased to support OnPath Energy on this bilateral financing of Common Farm Solar Park, OnPath's first UK solar and BESS co-location project. The project reflects NatWest's ongoing commitment to financing the infrastructure required for the UK's energy transition, while further strengthening our longstanding relationship with OnPath Energy."

Project Scale and Location

OnPath Energy is currently building the 49 MW solar and 50 MW two-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) close to the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, to the east of Sheffield.

The site will be able to generate enough homegrown electricity to meet the average annual requirements of up to 18,800 family homes. Construction work on the Common Farm co-located solar and battery energy storage system is set to be completed by mid-2027.

Route to Market

The project has a subsidy-free, long-term route to market contract with a global technology company for the solar asset and a third-party optimisation agreement to support the BESS.

Rationale for Co-Location

Oliver Hartley, finance director at OnPath Energy, said: "While there are currently few co-located sites across the UK, especially at this scale, it makes technical and operational sense to place solar and battery technologies in the same location and allows for efficient use to be made of the available grid connections."

"Reaching financial close on our first co-located solar and battery site demonstrates the confidence that all parties have in the project's commercial potential, the effectiveness of the different technologies we're utilising and the strength of our relationships with our lenders, advisors and suppliers," Hartley added.

"Work is progressing well on the Common Farm Solar and BESS Park, which we've been able to deliver thanks in part to our RCF, enabling us to deliver our project plans with maximum efficiency. Delivering this project will further enhance OnPath Energy's contribution towards reducing the UK's dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthening its energy security while also delivering a wide range of direct environmental, economic and community benefits to the local area."

Community Benefits Package

Local consultation work is continuing around how the annual community benefits package of around USD 66,443, which could equate to around USD 2,657,720 through the project's lifetime, can best be used to build community value by supporting local community and environmental priorities.

Delivery Team

Infrastructure consultancy AECOM is acting as lead consultant for the project, with specialist engineering contractor Grupotec delivering the required design, engineering, procurement and construction work, as well as operational maintenance and management work once green electricity generation begins.

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