CMS has advised long-standing client Statera Energy, a leading UK developer, owner and operator of flexible generation and energy storage assets, on the construction contracts for its 680MW/1360MWh Carrington Storage battery energy storage system (BESS), which reached financial close last week. This is a major milestone which will enhance flexibility and resilience across the UK electricity system.
The Carrington Storage facility, located at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park in Greater Manchester, will have the capacity to deliver instantaneous power to 2.2 million homes for up to 2 hours, supporting the UK’s transition to a renewable-led energy system. Construction began in autumn 2025, with energisation targeted for late 2026.
CMS has previously advised Stratera Energy on construction contracts for their Thurrock combined BESS (300MW) and flexible gas generation (450MW) project.
Phil Duffield, Energy & Climate Change Partner at CMS UK, commented: “We’re proud to have supported Statera Energy on this landmark project. Battery storage is essential to delivering a clean, flexible and reliable power system, and the Carrington BESS will play a meaningful role in enabling more low carbon generation to connect, strengthening grid stability.”
The CMS team was led by Phil Duffield and included Oliver Ratnatunga, Hanna Rannikmae, Kate Merrill, Maja Kajdasz and Veral Chandiramani (Energy & Infrastructure).
CMS’s role on this deal further emphasises the firm’s market-leading energy storage practice. CMS is widely recognised for its influential role in the sector, advising on some of the highest value, highest profile and first-of-a-kind transactions both in the UK and across Europe. CMS was 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 and again in 2025.
