UK solar financing and hybrid storage projects advance
Gulermak Renewables secured a £35 million construction loan from NORD/LB for the 48 MW Hanningfield solar farm in Essex, its first UK project financing, with operation targeted for August 2027. The Canada Infrastructure Bank is providing about $14.4 million for a wind-and-battery project at a Canadian gold mine to reduce fossil-fuel electricity use. Nordic Solar is adding batteries to its 100 MW Moletai solar park in Lithuania, turning it into a hybrid renewable facility.
Gulermak Renewables’ £35 million facility from NORD/LB supports the 48 MW Hanningfield solar farm in Essex, the company’s first UK project financing. The project holds a 20-year Contract for Difference covering expected output, alongside a 10-year route-to-market PPA with ElectroRoute; commercial operation is targeted for August 2027. Gulermak, founded in 2023, reports a European pipeline above 400 MW spanning solar, onshore wind, and batteries.
Canada Infrastructure Bank is lending about $14.4 million for a wind-and-battery system at a Canadian gold mine, reducing fossil-fuel electricity use. Nordic Solar is adding storage to Lithuania’s 100 MW Moletai solar park, which has over 150,000 panels and output equal to roughly 28,000 European households’ annual consumption.
These projects may affect local communities near Essex, Lithuania, and remote Canadian mining sites by supporting cleaner electricity and potentially more stable power supplies. Mining operators could lower diesel reliance, while households may benefit indirectly if storage improves grid flexibility. Construction and operation may create short-term jobs and local spending. However, outcomes depend on delivery, grid connections, and market conditions.