EnergyPathways Appoints Jacobs to Advance MESH Energy Storage Project

EnergyPathways PLC (AIM: EPP) has appointed engineering group Jacobs as its tier-one engineering and regulatory partner for the MESH long-duration energy storage project in the Irish Sea, near Barrow-in-Furness.

 

Jacobs will support EnergyPathways across planning, consenting, environmental and regulatory workstreams as the company prepares its application to Ofgem’s forthcoming Long Duration Energy Storage Cap and Floor scheme.

MESH has been designated a project of national significance by the UK Government and is targeting approximately 300 megawatts of capacity and 55 gigawatt-hours of storage, providing more than 100 hours of energy duration.

Jacobs will lead stakeholder engagement with local authorities and regional government and will also support the project’s grid connection application.

Its work will feed directly into both the Cap and Floor submission and the parallel Development Consent Order process, which will be required as MESH advances through planning.

The scope of Jacobs’ appointment also includes socio-economic assessments, employment analysis and evaluation of potential regional supply-chain benefits.

EnergyPathways said successful eligibility under the Cap and Floor regime would be an important milestone for MESH.

The scheme is designed to provide qualifying long-duration storage projects with a minimum revenue floor, helping reduce investment risk and support both debt and equity financing.

The company said the next major milestone will be submission to Ofgem once the forthcoming application round opens, followed by confirmation of whether MESH qualifies for the scheme.

Chief executive Ben Clube said Jacobs brings significant experience in nationally important UK infrastructure and particular knowledge of the Northwest of England.

He added that the regulatory and planning work being undertaken by Jacobs will feed directly into the Cap and Floor application and ultimately support the project’s final investment decision.

Jacobs executive vice president Richard Sanderson said the company’s experience with the Development Consent Order process would help EnergyPathways navigate complex planning requirements while maintaining momentum towards project delivery.

EnergyPathways Appoints Jacobs to Advance MESH Energy Storage Project - Share Talk