Peel Ports Group and E.ON have celebrated a significant milestone at the Port of Liverpool by successfully generating the first power from the new solar panels on the new nearly 260,000 square foot Alexandra Dock warehouse, part of a major sustainability programme at the Port and the creation of the UK’s largest roof-mounted solar array. A total of almost 7,000 (6,926) solar panels have been installed on the warehouse known as the ‘Alex Shed’ and have now been connected to the grid – the first instalment of an ambitious project that will see up to 48,000 solar panels installed across many more buildings at the Port of Liverpool. The project is part of a 25-year agreement between Peel Ports Group and E.ON, which is set to cut CO2e emissions(2) by 4,700 tonnes each year – equivalent to taking more than 1,600 cars off the road(3). This will play a central role in helping the Peel Ports Group to achieve its net zero emissions goal by 2040. Vijay Tank, Chief Operating Officer of E.ON Energy Solutions, said: “The Port of Liverpool is a critical national infrastructure site, and decarbonising places like this is essential for the UK’s environmental and economic targets. The first grid connection of this major solar project is a big leap towards creating a clean energy system fit for the future. “We’ve been energy partners of the Peel Ports Group for more than two decades and I’m extremely proud of our relationship and their continued trust in our ability to collaborate further in meeting their future energy ambitions.” The grid connection represents a key strategic objective for the port operator, which is seeking to secure 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Once complete, the panels are expected to deliver 25MW of electricity, providing enough energy to meet a quarter of the port’s annual requirements and matching the yearly consumption of more than 10,000 average UK homes(1). The full solar array is being financed and delivered by E.ON, with a commitment to employing local contractors for installation and ongoing maintenance throughout the 25-year agreement. In line with the sustainability ambitions of the port, all work has been completed within the existing port footprint, maximising available roof space, with all equipment and materials transported to the port by sea, minimising impact to the local community. Lewis McIntyre, Managing Director – Port Services at Peel Ports Group said:  “Generating the first power from this landmark solar project is a major milestone for the Port of Liverpool and for Peel Ports Group as a whole. By transforming our warehouse rooftops into clean energy assets, we’re taking practical, large-scale action to decarbonise a critical national gateway which enables regional trade and economic growth. “We are proud to be an industry leader in decarbonising port operations, having recently reported a 48% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse emissions across the group, in just five years.” “This project demonstrates how ports can lead the transition to renewable energy by maximising existing infrastructure, working with trusted partners like E.ON, and delivering long-term benefits for our customers, local communities and the environment as we progress towards our net zero target by 2040.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Root-Power has secured planning permission on appeal to deliver a £45m battery energy storage scheme in Leicestershire, paving the way for construction of a major renewable energy facility. The 100MW battery energy storage system will be built on land beside the River Soar near Kegworth. Once operational, it will store excess electricity generated from low-carbon and renewable sources before releasing it back into the National Grid when demand is high. The facility will connect directly to existing local grid infrastructure and is expected to support the region’s transition from fossil fuels following the closure of the former Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. During the appeal process, Root-Power addressed concerns over flood risk by confirming the site will be constructed above ground level, allowing flood water to pass beneath the facility. The design also includes a sunken flood storage tank to provide additional protection. Managing director Neil Brooks said the project would deliver long-term benefits for both the local community and the wider energy network. He said the development would help balance electricity supply during periods of peak demand, reduce the risk of outages and support more stable energy prices for nearby homes and businesses. Brooks also highlighted the company’s commitment to sensitive landscaping and biodiversity improvements, aimed at protecting and enhancing local wildlife while delivering clean, flexible power to the grid over the next 15 to 20 years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

ep Group, a UK energy transition company, and global smart energy company GridBeyond are announcing a partnership agreement to deliver an AI-powered optimisation programme for ep Group’s growing energy storage operations.  The partnership further supports ep Group’s joint venture with Norwegian power systems and battery storage specialist, Pixii AS, launched earlier this year to meet growing demand for optimised distributed energy systems in the UK. The partnership involves the optimisation of 50MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in North Baddesley, UK and the enrolment in the capacity market. ep Group’s BESS will benefit from GridBeyond’s Energy Management System and AI-driven optimisation platform, which enables real-time optimisation, design, forecasting and trading, allowing access to new revenue streams in the UK energy market. Accurate energy price forecasting will further allow for strategic charging and discharging that aligns with market dynamics and prolongs the life of batteries. “Our partnership with GridBeyond advances our mission to accelerate the shift to distributed, decarbonised, and digitised energy systems,” said Leo Bedford, Partner at ep Group. “With this partnership, we’re combining GridBeyond’s leading optimisation capabilities with Pixii’s power conversion technology and ep Group’s delivery expertise to help clients transform energy infrastructure into a strategic, value-generating asset.” “We are delighted to work together with ep Group to support their growing BESS portfolio,” said Scott Berrie, Director of Origination at GridBeyond. “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to advancing energy storage in the UK and highlights the strength of our AI-driven optimisation capabilities, utilising our market-leading forecasting and asset state-of-health expertise to maximise profits across all markets. Energy storage solutions are essential to enabling the full potential of renewable energy, adding flexibility and reliability across the grid.”  About GridBeyond:GridBeyond’s vision is to deliver a global zero carbon future. By leveraging AI, we innovate and collaborate with our customers to create optimal value from energy generation, demand and storage to deliver a zero-carbon future. By bridging the gap between distributed energy resources and electricity markets, GridBeyond’s technology means every connected asset – whether utility-scale renewables generation, battery storage, or industrial load – can be utilized to help maximize opportunities and enhance the grid. By intelligently dispatching flexibility into the right market, at the right time, asset owners and energy consumers unlock new revenues and savings, resilience, and management of price volatility, while supporting the transition to a Net Zero future. For more information, visit www.gridbeyond.com. About ep Group:ep Group is a specialist energy transition company with operations spanning advisory, sustainable building design, capital investment, and infrastructure delivery. ep Pixii is part of ep Group and is the exclusive distribution partner for Pixii batteries in the UK. For more information, visit www.epgroup.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

E.ON’s Green Funding Solutions team (GFS) has been awarded the prestigious ISO 45001 accreditation, the global benchmark for workplace health and safety. The achievement highlights E.ON’s unwavering commitment to protecting its people, customers, and communities while delivering high-quality, reliable energy solutions that help make energy more affordable for everyone. ISO 45001, developed by independent international standards committees, sets the highest standard for occupational health and safety. In securing the accreditation, GFS passed the rigorous audit with flying colours and was also recognised as an industry leader in process safety excellence. Since 2020, E.ON’s GFS team has installed more than 28,000 energy efficiency measures such as solar panels, heat pumps and insulation; improving more than 19,000 homes nationwide through partnerships with local authorities and housing associations – from the Isle of Wight to Northumberland. As part of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 programme, GFS was responsible for installing almost half (49%) of all UK solar panels in 2023-24, helping to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions for thousands of households. “Making affordable, sustainable energy accessible to everyone is our priority – and a significant part of that is health and safety of our installations, along with offering customers the highest quality,” said Jamie Brookes, Director of Green Funding Solutions at E.ON.  “This accreditation reflects the strength of our processes and systems, our relentless focus on safety, and our level of experience in making homes more comfortable and cheaper to run. We’re proud our customers trust us to deliver dependable, high-quality energy efficiency upgrades for their homes. Making affordable sustainable energy accessible to everyone is our priority at E.ON.” This milestone further cements E.ON’s role as a pioneer in improving energy efficiency in homes across the country. Working with local authorities, housing associations and government bodies, GFS delivers large-scale domestic programmes that create warmer, more comfortable homes which are cheaper to run and better for the environment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The government has granted a Development Consent Order for the Tillbridge Solar Project, paving the way for one of the UK’s largest ground-mounted solar farms on 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) of farmland near Glentworth, north-west Lincolnshire. Brought forward by Tillbridge Solar Limited, a joint venture between Tribus Clean Energy and Canada’s Recurrent Energy, the scheme qualifies as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. It will comprise extensive solar arrays with associated battery storage, grid connection works and supporting infrastructure for construction, operation and decommissioning. While the anticipated generating capacity is stated as in excess of 50MW, the site’s scale positions it among the country’s most substantial solar developments. Following acceptance for examination in May 2024, the Planning Inspectorate took representations from local communities, consultees and interested parties before making recommendations to the Secretary of State on 14 July 2025. Consent has now been issued by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. Supporters say the project will help shield bill-payers from volatile gas prices and advance the UK’s energy security and net-zero pathway. Energy minister Michael Shanks said: “Families across Lincolnshire and the rest of the country have seen their energy bills go through the roof as a result of our exposure to volatile gas prices. Solar is one of the cheapest and quickest power sources we can build, it is crucial in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower – giving us energy security, good jobs and growth across the country.” Keith McKinney, general manager UK & Ireland at Recurrent Energy, added: “Tillbridge is one of the most significant solar projects planned for the UK to date and we’re thrilled to see the ambition behind it backed by the government today with their decision to award consent. Through our plans, we’ll not only deliver clean energy for hundreds of thousands of homes, but develop the project in a way that gives back to the environment around it, and supports the local communities it is rooted in.” The decision has, however, reignited debate over land use. CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock criticised the loss of high-quality agricultural land: “The approval of a mega solar farm covering an area of high-quality farmland the size of Heathrow Airport highlights a deeply concerning trend: industrialising the countryside with ground-mounted solar while too many rooftops remain unused.” He pointed to CPRE research suggesting rooftop and car-park installations could deliver a large share of national solar targets without sacrificing productive landscapes. Next steps will focus on grid connection agreements, detailed design, habitat and landscape mitigation, and a construction phasing plan. The developers say advanced factory and site controls for the battery and electrical systems will support safety, quality and commissioning, while commitments on biodiversity and community benefit funds are expected to be clarified as the project moves towards delivery. For local authorities, landowners and contractors, the Tillbridge approval underscores two parallel realities: the rapid scaling of renewables to cut carbon and costs, and the growing imperative to balance energy generation with food production, biodiversity and community consent. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Teesside’s ambitions to lead the UK’s low-carbon revolution have been handed a sizeable boost, with Saudi Arabian investor Alfanar confirming plans for a £2bn sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant at the North Tees industrial cluster. The Lighthouse Green Fuels project will convert around 1.5 million tonnes of waste biomass into up to 180 million litres of SAF each year—enough, by the developer’s estimates, to power roughly 25,000 short-haul or 2,500 long-haul flights. The scheme promises scale and speed in a market racing to decarbonise flight. By producing drop-in fuels compatible with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure, SAF is widely seen as the most immediate route to cutting lifecycle emissions from aviation while newer propulsion technologies mature. Locating a large-format plant in the Tees Valley ties production into an industrial ecosystem already geared towards energy, chemicals and advanced manufacturing. Alfanar’s commitment follows a trade mission to Riyadh by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who met senior company figures including vice-chairman Sabah Al Multaq while promoting the Teesside Freeport to international investors. “It is outstanding news that Alfanar has committed to delivering this project on Teesside,” said Houchen. “Developments such as Lighthouse Green Fuels put our region at the forefront of a growing industry which is primed for massive expansion.” Jobs and local supply chains stand to benefit. More than 2,000 roles are expected during construction, with ongoing opportunities in operations, maintenance and logistics once the plant is live. For contractors and suppliers, the project points to high-value packages spanning civils, process engineering, storage, utilities and grid connections, as well as specialist control and safety systems typical of complex process plants. A defining feature of the development is its planned link to carbon capture and storage (CCS). Lighthouse Green Fuels will connect to the Northern Endurance Partnership’s CO₂ transport and storage network being developed off the Teesside coast, enabling the capture and permanent sequestration of process emissions. The integration is projected to avoid more than 750,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year and underscores Teesside’s emerging role as a UK hub for CCUS-enabled industry. Public backing has helped de-risk the early phases. The Department for Transport has already awarded the scheme £40m through its Advanced Fuels Fund, recognising Lighthouse Green Fuels as one of several strategic projects putting Teesside on the UK map for low-carbon aviation fuels. The Freeport designation adds further appeal, with potential tax and customs incentives that can improve project viability and accelerate delivery. The choice of a waste-biomass feedstock reflects a push towards fuels that deliver credible carbon savings without direct competition with food crops. It also opens the door to regional partnerships on waste aggregation and pre-processing, creating a circular-economy supply chain that can grow alongside the plant. As the market evolves, close attention will fall on traceability, lifecycle accounting and the robustness of emissions verification—areas where large, integrated projects can set a benchmark. While precise construction milestones are yet to be confirmed, the scale of the investment, the CCS hook-up and the Freeport location together signal a project designed to anchor a new industrial chapter for Teesside. If delivered as planned, Lighthouse Green Fuels would materially expand the UK’s domestic SAF capacity, support thousands of jobs, and help airlines cut emissions without waiting for an entirely new fleet or fuel system. For a region reshaping its industrial identity around net-zero growth, the message is clear: Teesside isn’t just courting the future of clean industry—it is building it, at scale, on the banks of the Tees. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals