UNITED KINGDOM: T‑4 capacity market clears at GBP 27.10 as 40.1 GW procured in total, BESS developers secure over 1.2 GW
The UK’s latest T‑4 capacity market auction for delivery year 2029–2030 has cleared at GBP 27.10 /kW/year, according to provisional results published by the National Energy System Operator in its role as EMR Delivery Body.
The auction awarded a total of 40.1 GW of de‑rated capacity across 691 capacity market units, with BESS the most notable among predominantly newbuild renewable technologies with around 1.224 GW secured.
The cleared volume exceeded the target capacity of 39.4 GW, with nearly 44.1 GW entering the auction and 90.97% of that total awarded capacity agreements.
Of the successful battery storage entrants, Zenobe led the way in terms of total de-rated capacity received, spread across several bids on behalf of its 400 MW Low Harker scheme near Carlisle.
Grenergy meanwhile won several bids worth 83.524 MW, including one for its CfD AR7-backed Fibden hybrid project in Worcestershire, while Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’s recently acquired 350 MW Kilmarnock South also secured 15-year contracts for 78.3 MW of de-rated capacity.
Creditas, Noriker Power, Elements Green, BW ESS, ILI Group, Sosteneo, AGR, Big Battery Company, Pelagic,Apatura, Econergy, Gresham House, RWE, Anesco, Arlington, Lightsource BP, Harmony Energy, European Energy, Flexion, Eku Energy, Centrica, Ganfeng Lithium, Innova, Capbal, Statera, Exagen, Asper, Brockwell,EDF, FRV, Enray, Gridbeyond, Aukera, Foresight Group, Boralex, Trina Solar, Schroders Greencoat, Greenvolt,Electric Land, Conrad Energy, AMP Clean Energy, Ampyr Solar Europe, SUSI–Eelpower, Wattstor, Greenspan,BSR, Downing, ESB, E.ON and Flexitricity completed the successful BESS bidders.
Gas‑fired generation otherwise dominated the results, securing nearly 23.5 GW, equivalent to 58.53% of total awarded capacity across 175 units.
Renewable technologies also featured among successful bidders, including 117.4 MW of onshore wind across 41 units, 19.1 MW of offshore wind across three units and 13.7 MW of solar capacity across 10 units.
Winning entries among these technologies included ones from Schroders Greencoat, RWE, ScottishPower Renewables, Nadara, SSE, EDF, Engie, Green Cat and Atrato.
Interconnectors accounted for 7.8 GW, representing 19.50% of awarded capacity across 11 units, while demand‑side response secured a combined 2.6 GW, or 6.40% of awarded capacity. Pumped storage secured 1.35 GW, or 3.37% of awarded capacity, across six units
Waste‑fuelled generation accounted for 697.24 MW across 28 units, while hydro secured 1.2 GW across 89 units and nuclear generation accounted for 929.1 MW across two units.
The latest result represents a sharp decline from the previous T‑4 auction for delivery year 2028–2029, which cleared at GBP 60 /kW/year, reflecting a significantly looser capacity balance and reduced price pressure in the market.
*This story was originally published exclusively for NPM Europe subscribers.
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