OnPath Energy Agrees Sale of West Yorkshire Solar Project to Octopus Renewables

OnPath Energy has agreed to sell its Barnsdale Solar Park project in West Yorkshire, England, to Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust plc (ORIT), a London-listed renewable energy investment company managed by Octopus Energy Generation. The project is located between Kippax and Allerton Bywater, east of Leeds. The transaction is subject to the fulfilment of closing conditions.

Barnsdale Solar Park is currently under construction, with work having progressed over approximately 18 months. The project is being delivered by specialist contractor Goldbeck Solar and is expected to connect to the National Grid through the nearby Ledston Primary electricity substation. Once operational, the solar park is expected to generate enough electricity annually to meet the needs of up to 19,000 homes. Commercial operation is anticipated in March 2027.

The project is supported by a UK government-backed Contract for Difference (CfD), awarded in the fifth allocation round. This mechanism provides a framework for stabilising electricity revenues through an agreed strike price, subject to the contract's terms. According to ORIT's acquisition announcement, the project has a fixed-price, inflation-linked CfD running until 2041, which is expected to provide greater long-term revenue visibility for the investor. For OnPath Energy, the sale forms part of its wider strategy of selling developed renewable energy assets and reinvesting the proceeds in new projects across Great Britain. The company intends to expand its development pipeline and has outlined plans to invest approximately £1 billion in clean energy projects over the next five years. For ORIT, the acquisition is expected to strengthen its UK solar portfolio and contribute to long-term shareholder returns and dividend cover from financial year 2027 onwards.