EDF And Aukera Sign Long-Term Route-To-Market PPA For 84.52MW Co-Located Solar And Battery Project

• EDF has signed a long-term route-to-market PPA with Aukera to offtake 100% of the renewable power generated from Benthead Solar Farm, co-located with a 31MW battery system, with commissioning set for 2026
• The Benthead project in North Ayrshire, Scotland, is expected to power over 25,000 homes and cut around 17,000 tonnes of CO_₂ annually, supporting the UK's low-carbon transition
• EDF will optimise the site's battery via its PowerShift platform, using AI-driven real-time trading to maximise grid value and revenue

EDF has entered into a new partnership with Aukera, a leading specialist in European renewable investments and development, to provide a long-term route-to-market Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 100% of the output from the Benthead Solar Farm, a new-build project co-located with a 31MW battery energy storage system (BESS).

Located in North Ayrshire, Scotland, the Benthead project was successfully 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 9 to 11 years, depending on the commissioning date of the battery, further strengthening EDF’s role in enabling the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future through clean, dispatchable power. This collaboration marks the first time EDF, Britain’s largest offtaker of renewable power and biggest optimiser of batteries has partnered with Aukera.

Pexapark, a leading provider of renewable energy PPA benchmark prices, market intelligence, and advisory services, 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 strong example for the GB 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. As such, Pexapark is expecting strong growth in this segment as those projects advance through development.

The Benthead project is 100% owned by Aukera and has been financed and will be built as part of a 250MW portfolio. It is forecast to generate over 78.4GWh of electricity per year – enough to power more than 25,000 homes, while preventing around 17,000 tonnes of CO_₂ emissions annually. With commissioning targeted for 2026, the site is expected to generate a total of 705-862GWh over the PPA term.

The project represents a next-generation model of co-located renewables and flexible storage. 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.

In addition to the PPA, EDF has also signed a separate optimisation agreement for the battery system via its PowerShift platform. PowerShift provides real-time trading and operational support for flexible assets, using advanced AI, machine learning algorithms, and industry insight to maximise performance and revenues across various wholesale, balancing, and ancillary markets.

Christopher Dalley, Director of Wholesale Market Services, at EDF 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.”

Mike Forber, Regional Lead GB&I – PPA & BESS Transactions at Pexapark, added: “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.”