EDF has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Aukera to offtake 100% of the renewable energy generated from a co-located solar and battery storage project in Scotland.
The long-term route-to-market PPA will cover the energy generated from Benthead Solar Farm, a new-build project in north Ayrshire co-located with a 31MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
The 84.5MW Benthead project is expected to generate over 78.4GWh of electricity per year – enough to power more than 25,000 homes, while preventing around 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
With commissioning targeted for 2026, the site is expected to generate a total of between 705GWh and 862GWh over the PPA term.
EDF will optimise the site’s battery via its PowerShift platform, using AI-driven real-time trading to maximise grid value and revenue.
The Benthead project was awarded a 15-year Contract for Difference (CfD) as part of Allocation Round 6, a key mechanism in the UK Government’s strategy to drive investment in renewable electricity generation.
The agreement will run for a term of nine to 11 years, depending on the commissioning date of the battery.
This collaboration marks the first time EDF has partnered with Aukera.
Pexapark acted as commercial advisor to Aukera on the partnership, offering guidance on key structural aspects of the PPA and BESS agreements.
This offtake structure provides a key example for the UK market as the number of hybrid projects in permitting and development continues to grow.
According to the UK’s Renewable Energy Planning Database, 40% of wind and solar projects at advanced stages of development, representing 10.6GW of new capacity, are co-located with BESS facilities.
The Benthead project is 100% owned by Aukera and will be built as part of a 250MW portfolio.
The site shares a 63MW grid connection between the solar farm and the AC-coupled battery asset, enabling strategic control of exports to maximise the site’s overall grid value.
Director of wholesale market services at EDF Christopher Dalley said: “We are proud to partner with Aukera on this exciting project which reflects our shared vision of a cleaner, more flexible energy system.
“The integration of long-term PPA stability with cutting-edge battery optimisation through PowerShift demonstrates how EDF supports the UK’s net zero ambitions while unlocking greater value for renewable asset owners.”
Pexapark’s UK and Ireland regional lead for PPA and BESS transactions Mike Forber said: “It has been a pleasure to support Aukera with this agreement, securing long-term revenues for Aukera’s first solar and storage hybrid project that will deliver significant value to the UK energy system.
“We expect PPAs for solar-plus-storage to increase significantly over the next few years, and deals like this help lay the groundwork for market growth.”