Tillingdown Farm BESS is a 12MW / 48MWh battery energy storage project located on Tillingdown Lane, Caterham, Surrey (CR3 7JA). The project is being developed by Root-Power, a UK-based BESS developer with a rapidly growing pipeline across the country.
The project received planning permission in September 2024 and is scheduled to be energised in late 2025. It will deliver enough power to supply 24,000 homes and will play a critical role in supporting grid stability in the Caterham area.
Project Overview
- Project Name: Tillingdown Farm BESS
- Developer: Root-Power
- Capacity: 12MW / 48MWh
- Location: Tillingdown Lane, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 7JA
- Status: 🔧 Under Construction / Pre-construction (2025)
- Expected Energisation: Late 2025
- Homes Powered: 24,000
- Planning Approval: September 2024
Strategic Location
The site was strategically chosen due to its proximity to the Caterham Primary Substation. The substation's available capacity allowed for an accelerated project timeline, enabling an early energisation date without requiring costly or time-consuming grid reinforcements.
The 12MW capacity was carefully selected in collaboration with UK Power Networks (UKPN) to ensure optimal use of the existing infrastructure, making Tillingdown Farm a key milestone for energy development in the region.
Project Significance
- Grid Support: The BESS will provide critical grid balancing services in the Caterham area
- Accelerated Delivery: Proximity to existing substation capacity enabled fast-track development
- Homes Powered: 24,000 homes will benefit from the stored energy during peak demand
- Greenbelt Location: Located within Greenbelt and Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), demonstrating responsible development in sensitive areas
Developer Background
Root-Power is a UK-based BESS developer with a proven track record of rapid project development. The company has grown from 0MW to over 2,000MW in just two years, with Tillingdown Farm being one of its flagship projects.
Root-Power's in-house team has delivered 331MW of BESS projects in the UK, with 96MW ready to build. The company also operates and maintains a 0.5GW BESS portfolio across the UK, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Texas, and Germany.
The company's end-to-end project capability covers development, delivery, and operations, ensuring optimised performance and long-term reliability.
Project Timeline
- 2023: Site identification and development commenced
- September 2024: Planning permission granted
- 2025: Pre-construction and early works
- Late 2025: Expected energisation
Other Root-Power Projects
Root-Power has a rapidly growing pipeline of BESS projects across the UK, including:
- Coryton BESS – Demonstrating efficient CAPEX and reduced construction time
- Lucky Star BESS (Kent) – 50MW/100MWh, planning approved
- Additional projects totalling over 130MW expected to be operational by end of 2026
Related Links
Information compiled from Root-Power official website and planning documents. Last updated: 18 April 2026.