Today’s renewable energy news includes announcements from Masdar, Aura Power, NextEnergy, among others.
Masdar Secures USD 6.1 Billion Financing for 24/7 Solar and Battery Megaproject
Masdar has reached financial close on a USD 6.1 billion (EUR 5.34 billion) solar and battery energy storage project in Abu Dhabi, advancing large-scale 24/7 clean power generation. The gigawatt-scale development secured USD 5.1 billion in financing from a consortium of 13 international and local banks, while Masdar is contributing USD 1 billion in equity. The project will combine 5.2 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity with a 19-GWh battery energy storage system. Designed to supply 1 GW of continuous baseload renewable power around the clock, the development represents a major innovation in integrating solar generation with utility-scale storage. The financing milestone strengthens Abu Dhabi’s clean energy ambitions, energy security and long-term economic growth through reliable, affordable renewable infrastructure.
Aura Power Wins Approval for 100-MW Four-Hour UK Battery Storage Project
Aura Power has secured planning permission from North Somerset Council for the 100-MW Sandford battery energy storage system in Somerset, southwest England. Located next to an existing National Grid substation, the project will feature a four-hour discharge cycle and supply electricity equivalent to the needs of up to 100,000 homes during each cycle. Aura Power will continue working with National Grid to progress the project’s grid connection, although construction and commissioning timelines have not been announced. The Sandford BESS forms part of Aura Power’s expanding UK portfolio of utility-scale solar and battery storage developments. The Bristol-based company is transitioning into an independent power producer and targets 1 GW of ready-to-build solar and battery projects across the UK by 2028.
NextEnergy’s Starlight Wins Permit for 240-MW/960-MWh UK Battery Storage Project
Starlight Energy, the project development arm of London-based NextEnergy Group, has secured consent to construct a 240-MW/960-MWh battery energy storage system in England. Located at Thorpe Thewles, near Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, the facility is Starlight’s largest BESS project developed in the UK to date. The project is designed to strengthen grid flexibility, resilience and stability as renewable generation continues to increase. Starlight specialises in renewable energy development, particularly solar and agrivoltaics, and had a 7-GW global portfolio as of April. The company is assessing expansion opportunities in the US, Chile, Germany, France, Iberia and Poland, while exploring hybrid systems combining solar, wind, batteries and potentially green hydrogen to support the global energy transition.
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