Cero Generation

Yesterday, our Head of Communications, Charlie Geller, joined Owen Horrell from our development partner Enso Energy and Anastasia Varytimidi from our project delivery partner Metlen Energy & Metals came together to spend time discussing potential careers with pupils at Beckingham Primary School, near our Bumble Bee co-located renewable energy project, which will enter construction this year. It was a brilliant session talking to the children about careers in renewables, how they might find their way into the sector, and the advice we’d give to the next generation. Our message was simple: think about the things you enjoy, what makes you happy, and what you’re naturally good at! There are so many different paths into renewables, and the sector needs all kinds of talents. Earlier in the day, the pupils had also built their own model renewable energy projects using household waste and cardboard - a fantastic way to get creative while learning about clean energy and sustainability. A huge thank you to Beckingham Primary School for having us. It was inspiring to see so much curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm for the future of renewable energy.

Cero recently welcomed members of our Board and Executive Committee to our Bramley Project (a 115MW co-located solar and storage project in Hampshire) for a site visit. The project was developed alongside our partner Enso Energy and is being constructed by our EPC contractor Metlen Energy & Metals. The visit included a project briefing, site induction, construction updates, and a guided walk across the PV and BESS areas, offering a valuable opportunity to see progress on the ground and discuss the realities of project delivery. Our conversations focused on key areas such as safety management, how the project team is managing potential impacts on the local community, and the ways in which we are engaging with the community in order to deliver local benefits. These visits are an important part of good governance, creating space for direct engagement with project teams and reinforcing the standards needed to deliver projects safely, responsibly and with local communities in mind. Thanks to the team for hosting and for sharing their work.

Great to see members of our team in Spain taking on a new challenge this week with a rock climbing session at Sputnik Climbing in Madrid. We had 11 people taking part and many of them were trying climbing for the first time. It was a brilliant opportunity to for them to step outside their comfort zones, face a fear of heights and enjoy something new together!

Last week, Cero Generation welcomed pupils from Beckingham Primary School to tour our nearby Bumble Bee Co-Located Renewable Energy Project close to the West Burton substation near Doncaster, a project that recently achieved financial close. We were joined by our development partner Enso Energy and the team from our EPC contractor, Metlen Energy & Metals, for a fantastic day of learning, discussion and exploration. The kids had a brilliant time and, while they learned a lot about solar energy, it is fair to say the highlight may well have been the double decker bus that brought them from school to site! We split the school into two groups. One group took a walk around the fields where the project will be built, learning about the construction process and how the site will support wildlife, bees and biodiversity, including strengthening existing hedgerows. The other group joined a presentation on what solar energy is, how solar projects are developed and built, and why projects like our Bumble Bee are such an important part of meeting climate targets and strengthening UK energy security. We were asked a LOT of questions, which was lovely. The groups then swapped over so everyone had the chance to experience both sessions. We also had some great conversations about the community engagement fund that we will be launching soon and explained how the school could apply for a grant and what kinds of projects that funding could support. It was a pleasure to spend time with such an engaged and enthusiastic group of young people. Thank you to Beckingham Primary School for visiting, and to Enso Energy and Metlen for helping make the day such a success.

The theme for International Women’s Day is Give to Gain, highlighting how sharing knowledge, encouragement and support helps others grow. Across Cero Generation, colleagues reflected on what they have gained from the women they work alongside. For Iva Jukić, LL.M , one of those people is Marta Sanchez Lopez. Through working together, Marta encouraged a mindset that has stayed with her ever since. She often challenged the team with a simple question: “Have I answered this precisely enough, or have I overlooked an important angle?” That habit of questioning assumptions and looking for the full picture has become central to how Iva approaches her work today and something she now consciously passes on to her own team. Fatiha Bouhired shared how working alongside Iva gave her the confidence to take on a role she initially felt unready for. Iva’s belief in her and encouragement to be more confident and assertive created the opportunity for Fatiha to grow quickly and gain invaluable first hand experience. These reflections show how giving time, support and trust to others creates opportunities that ripple far beyond a single moment. Working alongside so many inspiring women across Cero, from leadership to development teams, is a daily reminder that determination, attention to detail and perseverance are what drive our projects forward.

Our colleagues Raphael Raggatt and Patrick O’Connor joined Sungrow Europe for a signing ceremony at last week’s Energy Storage Summit to mark a new BESS supply agreement supporting our two new UK projects; the Bramley and Bumble Bee Co-located Renewable Energy Projects.   Energy storage plays a critical role in enabling greater flexibility and resilience across the electricity system, and we are pleased to be working with Sungrow to deliver high quality storage solutions that operate alongside solar energy generation.   We are committed to working with partners who share our principles for responsible and sustainable supply chains.   Sungrow’s approach reflects this commitment.   The company undertakes detailed lifecycle assessments of its products and has introduced programmes to increase the use of renewable electricity in manufacturing, while developing initiatives to extend battery life and support the reuse and recycling of storage components.   We look forward to collaborating closely as these projects move into the delivery phase and contribute to strengthening the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure.

Cero Generation has renewed its collaboration with La Rete – Associazione di Volontariato for 2026. La Rete operates in the Municipality of Pontinia, close to our 70MWp agrivoltaic solar PV project. La Rete is committed to supporting individuals with physical and mental disabilities, promoting initiatives aimed at improving their quality of life and providing concrete support to their families. Respecting and supporting the communities and territories in which we operate is a core value, and we are honoured to continue supporting the Association. Angelo Andriollo, President of La Rete said: “We would like to thank Cero for contributing to our initiatives. Following the success of our ceramics workshop, in 2026 we will allocate part of the donation to the development of a floriculture project, where our young participants will once again take centre stage with their usual enthusiasm and curiosity.” Bruno Conti, Country Director Italy said: “Supporting organisations like La Rete is an integral part of Cero’s mission. We are pleased to contribute to projects that help young people develop their skills and strengthen their independence. We extend our thanks to the President, the Board, the educators and the volunteers for their commendable work in support of the local community that hosts us.”

Cero Generation, alongside our UK development partner Enso Energy, has reached financial close on the Bumble Bee Co-Located Renewable Energy Project close to the West Burton substation near Doncaster. The project will deliver 78 MWp of solar PV alongside a 120 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), further strengthening our UK portfolio with Cero on track to deliver our target of over 1GW of projects in operation across our core markets. Financial close was achieved with a strong group of lenders including ING, NORD/LB, Rabobank and Santander UK. Bumble Bee is the second project to secure funding via our Gemini portfolio facility, following the 114 MW Bramley project, which reached financial close last summer and is now in construction. A portion of the battery revenues will be secured under a 10-year tolling agreement with ENGIE, who will optimise 70 MW / 140 MWh of capacity. This marks Cero’s first tolling agreement, and the first tolling agreement signed on a co-located asset in the UK. EDF will provide optimisation services for the remaining battery capacity and route-to-market services for the solar PV. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months. We’ll be working with Metlen Energy & Metals as EPC contractor, with JA Solar supplying the solar panels and Sungrow Europe supplying the BESS. Reaching financial close on Bumble Bee reflects the continued confidence of our lending partners and demonstrates the critical role co-located solar and storage projects play in accelerating the UK’s energy transition.

Cero Generation, alongside our UK development partner Enso Energy, has reached financial close on the Bumble Bee Co-Located Renewable Energy Project close to the West Burton substation near Doncaster. The project will deliver 78 MWp of solar PV alongside a 120 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), further strengthening our UK portfolio with Cero on track to deliver our target of over 1GW of projects in operation across our core markets. Financial close was achieved with a strong group of lenders including ING, NORD/LB, Rabobank and Santander UK. Bumble Bee is the second project to secure funding via our Gemini portfolio facility, following the 114 MW Bramley project, which reached financial close last summer and is now in construction. A portion of the battery revenues will be secured under a 10-year tolling agreement with ENGIE, who will optimise 70 MW / 140 MWh of capacity. This marks Cero’s first tolling agreement, and the first tolling agreement signed on a co-located asset in the UK. EDF will provide optimisation services for the remaining battery capacity and route-to-market services for the solar PV. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months. We’ll be working with Metlen Energy & Metals as EPC contractor, with JA Solar supplying the solar panels and Sungrow Europe supplying the BESS. Reaching financial close on Bumble Bee reflects the continued confidence of our lending partners and demonstrates the critical role co-located solar and storage projects play in accelerating the UK’s energy transition.

This week, Microsoft announced it has reached 40 GW of contracted renewable energy globally – a major milestone in its journey to become carbon negative by 2030.   That commitment includes over 1 GW of wind and solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the UK, and we’re proud that Larks Green, our utility-scale solar project developed alongside Enso Energy, is part of that portfolio.   Last year Tadgh Cullen joined Microsoft in Newport, Wales, where they outlined the actions they are taking to decarbonise their new data centre. It was a great example of how corporate leadership can directly support the financing of new renewable capacity.   Long-term PPAs like the one we have with Microsoft at Larks Green are critical to the growth of new renewable projects. They provide the revenue certainty needed to finance and deliver new solar projects, helping new infrastructure get off the ground.   We’re proud that Larks Green is contributing to both Microsoft’s 40GW milestone and the UK’s clean energy transition.