Two of Britain’s longest established developers of energy infrastructure are joining up. Ending three decades of independence, Carlton Power and Stag Energy today plight their troths.
Energy security for clients and for the nation will be a key focus for the merged firm, alongside services in storage and grid stability, including system inertia, reactive power and short circuit capacity. These will underpin the business’s activities on projects supporting Britain’s transition towards Net Zero.
The merged entity will operate within the Carlton Power Group. It includes personnel from both Carlton and Stag, including Carlton’s founder Keith Clarke and George Grant, the founder of Stag Energy.
Keith Clarke said: “Our combined capabilities provide an unparalleled track record of successfully identifying, developing and delivering major infrastructure projects in the UK and Europe.
Over thirty years, the team has delivered more than 6GW of both thermal and renewables generation. The newly merged entity foresees a range of business opportunities that vital for the UK energy system.
George Grant said: “The combined company intends to capitalise on the continuing growth in the market for distributed low carbon energy projects and to continue to deliver quality investment opportunities for both strategic and financial partners.”
It is also developing a portfolio of projects across the UK producing green hydrogen, plus Carlton Carbon, the company’s new carbon advisory business.
Headquartered in Stokesley, Yorkshire, Carlton presently leads development of Manchester’s Trafford Energy Park. The company’s blueprints there envisage –
- 250MWe of battery storage
- 50MW/250MWhr of storage using liquid air, built in partnership with Highview Power
- a 200MW electrolyser and hydrogen hub for transport and heating, developed for Trafford Green Hydrogen
The Trafford site also includes the proposed 2GW Trafford CCGT, consented by government in 2010. It has potential to operate on hydrogen or natural gas, with carbon capture as the market evolves.
Carlton also hopes to expand its Langage Energy Park near Plymouth to incorporate energy storage and electrolyser facilities.
Based in Edinburgh, Stag is progressing projects in support of National Grid’s Pathfinder process. The firm’s team originated and secured development consent orders for four OCGT projects in England and Wales, acquired by Drax Group in 2019.
Stag has recently developed a portfolio of small-scale back-up generation units. It originated the Gateway gas storage facility in the Irish Sea, consented by the UK government in 2008.
