Canadian Solar Inc., listed on NASDAQ under the ticker CSIQ, announced that its energy storage division, e-STORAGE, will supply a total of 420 MWh AC of battery energy storage systems to Drax Group for two major projects in the United Kingdom. Drax, a leading renewable energy company in the UK, is expanding its storage portfolio through these new installations.
The projects include a 60 MW / 120 MWh AC facility in Marfleet, England, and a larger 150 MW / 300 MWh AC installation in Neilston, Scotland. Both sites were originally developed by Apatura, a UK company focused on large-scale battery storage and digital infrastructure development. After acquisition by Drax, the projects will be integrated into the company’s FlexGen portfolio. Battery installation at the Marfleet project is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, while installation at Neilston is planned to start in early 2027.
Under the agreements, e-STORAGE will deliver a fully integrated and commissioned system that includes its SolBank 3.0 technology. In addition to supplying the hardware, the company will support the projects through a long-term service agreement that covers system monitoring, preventative maintenance and performance analytics.
This combination of system delivery and ongoing service is intended to maintain stable operational performance throughout the lifecycle of each asset.Once operational, the new storage systems will play an important role in enhancing grid flexibility in the UK. By supplying fast-responding storage capacity, the projects will help the electricity system accommodate more renewable energy and provide additional support during periods when solar and wind output is low.
Lee Dawes, Chief Operations Officer at Drax Group, said that the company is pleased to collaborate with e-STORAGE and Apatura on these new assets. He noted that this marks Drax’s first investment in short-duration battery storage and that the systems will help support a more reliable power supply as the UK continues its transition toward a higher share of intermittent renewable energy.
Giles Hanglin, Chief Executive Officer of Apatura, highlighted that both the Marfleet and Neilston projects represent key steps in strengthening the UK’s flexible energy infrastructure. By combining Apatura’s development capabilities with e-STORAGE technology and Drax’s operational experience, he said the partnership is helping to deliver projects that enable more renewable electricity to flow into the grid.
Colin Parkin, President of Canadian Solar and head of e-STORAGE, stated that the collaboration reflects a shared effort to expand a more resilient and adaptable energy system in the UK. He emphasized that the company remains committed to delivering dependable system performance and high-quality service to customers across Europe as demand for advanced energy storage continues to grow.
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