CMS has advised global energy storage owner-operator BW ESS on the successful debt financing of its operational 100MW/331MWh Bramley Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Hampshire, UK. The financing, provided equally by Westpac and UOB, marks a significant milestone for BW ESS and the UK energy storage sector, reflecting the technical excellence and strategic importance of the Bramley project to the national grid.
Bramley BESS stands as one of the UK’s longest duration and most versatile energy storage assets, underpinned by a market-first seven-year tolling agreement with Shell Energy Europe. Since its inauguration in February 2025, Bramley has consistently delivered as one of the largest single sources of energy storage capacity available to the UK grid, exceeding expectations for both technical and revenue performance.
CMS acted as legal advisor to BW ESS throughout the transaction, supporting the company in navigating a highly competitive financing process and ensuring the successful close of this flagship deal.
Katie Duffield, CMS Banking & Finance Partner, comments: “We’re delighted to have supported BW ESS on this landmark financing. The deal is a testament to the growing importance of battery energy storage in delivering a resilient, low-carbon energy system for the UK.”
Louise Dalton, CMS Energy & Climate Changer Partner, adds: “The Bramley BESS project’s innovative seven-year tolling agreement sets a new benchmark for revenue certainty in the UK energy storage market. We are seeing significant lender appetite to support projects backed by long-term, bankable tolling agreements with credible counterparties.”
The CMS team was led by Katie Duffield and Louise Dalton and included Huw Knott, Chris Thorp and Alfie Kerr (Banking & Finance); Phil Duffield, Tom Ballard, Yasmin Kasri and Joel Padi (Energy & Infrastructure); and Konrad Rawicz (Corporate).
CMS’s role on this deal further emphasises the firm’s market-leading energy storage practice, with CMS having recently been named Law Firm of the Year at the Energy Storage Awards 2024 and subsequently named Legal Adviser of the Year at the Energy Storage Investment Awards 2024.
