First Bus supports UK electricity network with its largest battery storage site
- First Bus’ largest battery storage facility begins operating next month in Hampshire, with work starting on another site in Aberdeen by the end of this year.
- The innovative units will store excess electricity and distribute power back into the UK’s electricity network at peak times as well as charging electric buses.
- FirstGroup announces lead investment in Palmer Energy Technology (‘PETL’) to bring the latest, innovative battery storage units to its First Bus sites. Other investors are Barclays and the University of Oxford.
First Bus will support the UK’s electricity network with the launch of its largest battery storage site next month, the company has announced today.
The innovative facility will be unveiled at its Hoeford bus depot in Hampshire in September, with work starting on an even larger unit in Aberdeen by the end of the year.
The new facilities will use batteries to store surplus electricity so it can be distributed back into the country’s power network at peak times and help maintain power supplies. The stored electricity will also be used to power some of First Bus’ 1,200+ electric buses in its growing nationwide fleet.
Over time, batteries which have reached the end of their useful bus life will be removed from the company’s vehicles and used for power storage, giving them a new lease of life and progressing the company’s decarbonisation journey. This includes a commitment to a net zero commercial bus fleet by 2035, which has already seen it electrify over a dozen of its depots and replace more than 1,200 diesel buses with electric.
This major step in the company’s plans to develop battery storage sites will see its Hoeford depot provide enough space for almost three bus batteries with the potential to store one megawatt of power, enough to supply the equivalent of 125 homes for one day*.
By the end of this year, First Bus will have started work on an even larger battery storage unit at its depot in Aberdeen, and will explore opportunities to create more battery sites across the UK over time.
The news of the company’s first megawatt battery storage site comes as FirstGroup Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc, announces an investment in Palmer Energy Technology (‘PETL’), which designs and manufactures battery energy storage systems and was founded by former Aston Martin Chief Executive and Nissan Chief Operating Officer, Dr Andy Palmer. Other investors include Barclays and Oxford University.
Mr Palmer said: “With buses at the forefront of the transition to electric vehicles and net-zero transportation, I’m delighted to welcome investment from FirstGroup Energy Ltd, as well as Barclays and Oxford University, to advance development of next generation control systems. This will allow us to accelerate our business and give the UK a leading position in battery energy storage system technology.”
Faizan Muhammad, FirstGroup’s Investment Director – Energy, said: “Our investment in Palmer Energy Technology, alongside Barclays Bank and Oxford University, brings together great private sector expertise to find creative solutions to challenges facing the UK.
“This investment continues our strategy of backing new and innovative companies aimed at supporting our long-term public commitment of achieving a zero-emission commercial bus fleet by 2035. We’re really excited about this new chapter in our decarbonisation journey and look forward to working closely with PETL to continue developing this technology.”
The new partnership with Palmer Energy Technology has been further boosted by the recent announcement that it has acquired software company Brill Power, bolstering the company’s battery storage capabilities.
Notes to editors
*Average gas and electricity usage | Ofgem (an average home uses about 8 kwh per day)
Bus batteries and battery storage
Current bus batteries typically last between eight and ten years under normal usage but can be repurposed for a ‘second life’ as static energy storage, given that the majority of a battery’s capacity remains at the end of its useful bus life. This can extend a battery’s life by several more years, before it reaches the end of its life and is recycled.
Find out more about battery storage and how it can help the UK’s power network from the National Grid.
About First Bus
First Bus is one of the UK’s largest bus operators, carrying more than 1.5 million passengers every day. Its local bus services serve over 25% of the population of Great Britain and more than half of the UK’s top 15 most populated urban areas.
The company is a leading operator in the majority of its local areas, including major urban centres such as Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol. In London, First Bus operates 83 routes in west and central areas from 10 garages, serving 180 million passengers annually. The combined operation manages a fleet of more than 5,750 buses across the UK.
First Bus is the UK’s largest national bus operator to achieve real Living Wage employer status, reflecting its commitment to putting people and customers at the heart of its operations.
The company is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 and will have more than 1,500 zero-emission buses in service by the end of 2026.
As part of its investment in zero-emission infrastructure, First Bus is converting depots across the UK to accommodate electric buses. Through First Charge, its commercial electric vehicle charging service, the company opens up this high-powered depot charging infrastructure to other fleet operators as part of one of the UK’s largest networks of ultra-rapid charging superhubs, helping businesses progress their decarbonisation journeys.
First Bus also operates Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company, Lakeside, Ensignbus, Anderson Travel, and the Aircoach network and Matthews in Ireland.
First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.
For more information on First Bus: news.firstbus.co.uk
About FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc (LSE: FGP.L) is a leading private sector provider of public transport services.
With around 29,000 employees, it reported revenue of £5.1 billion and transported almost 2m passengers a day in FY 2025. It creates solutions that reduce complexity, making travel smoother and life easier.
Its businesses are at the heart of its communities, and the essential services it provide are critical to delivering wider economic, social and environmental goals.
Each of its divisions is a leader in its field: First Bus is one of the largest bus operators in the UK, serving more than 25% of the population in the UK with a fleet of more than 5,750 buses, and carrying more than a million passengers a day. First Rail is one of the UK’s most experienced rail operators, with many years of experience running long-distance, commuter, regional and sleeper rail services.
It operates a fleet of about 1,800 locomotives and rail carriages through two Department for Transport contracted train operating companies: WCP (incorporating Avanti West Coast and West Coast Partnership Development) and GWR, and two open access routes (Hull Trains and Lumo).
It is formally committed to operating a zero emission First Bus commercial fleet by 2035, and First Rail will help support the UK Government’s goal to remove all diesel-only trains from service by 2040.
During FY 2025 FirstGroup received MSCI’s highest possible ESG rating of AAA, was named one of the world’s cleanest 200 public companies for the sixth consecutive year and holds an Industry Top-Rated status with Sustainalytics and Sustainability Yearbook membership with S&P Global.
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