UK power generation firm Frontier Power has signed a Joint Development Agreement with Ethos Green Energy, which could see the development of 5GW of data center capacity colocated with solar and long-duration battery energy storage (LDES) across the UK market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ethos will provide Frontier with exclusive access to a number of connection points and land options to support the development of its project pipeline.

According to Ethos, it has more than 10GW of connection offers available, which is expected to enable a pipeline of up to 20GWh of LDES projects. In addition, the collaboration also aims to develop 5GW of solar energy projects.

Ultimately, the partners hope to create integrated “energy hubs” that will consist of renewable generation, LDES, and large data centers colocated with one another. The initiative, the companies say, will maximize the value of shared infrastructure while addressing growing demand for renewable energy-powered data solutions.

Commenting on the agreement, Humza Malik, CEO of Frontier Power, said: “This collaboration with Ethos represents a significant step forward in addressing the UK’s energy transition challenges. By combining our expertise with Ethos’, we have an unparalleled portfolio of connection points and land options. Together with our supply chain partners, Invinity and Eos, we are poised to deliver utility-scale transformative projects that will enhance energy security, reduce costs for consumers, and support the UK’s net-zero ambitions.”

The partnership will have an initial emphasis on battery projects from UK electricity regulator Ofgem’s Window 1, Long-Duration Energy Storage cap-and-floor scheme. The scheme, which was launched on April 8, is open to applicants until June 9.

The partners plan to submit multiple LDES technologies for consideration, including flow and zinc-based batteries. The scheme includes a “floor” guaranteeing a minimum revenue and a “cap” limiting the maximum revenue a project can earn, aiming to de-risk investment and protect consumers.

Frontier was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Warwick. It develops a range of energy solutions, including interconnectors, offshore wind transmission, offshore wind generation, and energy storage.

Ethos was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in London. It is a developer of LDES and traditional renewable energy. The company currently has more than 15GW of renewable assets under development.