Canadian Solar Inc. (the "Company" or "Canadian Solar") (NASDAQ: CSIQ) today announced that e-STORAGE, its energy storage solutions business, will deliver a total of 420 MWh AC of battery energy storage systems for Drax Group ("Drax"), a leading UK renewable energy company, across two projects in the United Kingdom.
The projects include a 60 MW / 120 MWh AC installation in Marfleet, England, and a 150 MW / 300 MWh AC installation in Neilston, Scotland. Both projects are being developed by Apatura, a UK energy infrastructure company specializing in large-scale battery storage and enabling digital infrastructure. The projects have been acquired by Drax and will become part of Drax's FlexGen portfolio. Battery installations are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2026 at the Marfleet site, with the Neilston project expected to start installations in early 2027.
Under the agreements, e-STORAGE will supply a fully integrated and commissioned battery energy storage system, including its SolBank 3.0 energy storage batteries. e-STORAGE will also provide operational services for the project under a long-term service agreement (LTSA) covering monitoring, preventative maintenance, and performance analytics.
The combined system supply and long-term service support are designed to ensure consistent operational availability across the lifecycle of the asset. When operational, the systems will enhance grid flexibility in the region and support the integration of additional renewable generation into the UK electricity system.
Lee Dawes, Chief Operations Officer of Drax Group, said, "We are looking forward to working with e-STORAGE and Apatura on the development of these battery storage assets. 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."
Giles Hanglin, Chief Executive Officer of Apatura, stated, "Marfleet and Neilston represent important milestones in building the flexible, resilient energy infrastructure the UK needs to meet its decarbonization ambitions. 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."
Colin Parkin, President of Canadian Solar and President of e-STORAGE, added, "This collaboration with Drax and Apatura reflects our shared commitment to advancing a more flexible and resilient energy system in the UK. 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."