Jacobs has been appointed by EnergyPathways to provide consenting, regulatory and key Development Consent Order (DCO) activities for the MESH Energy Storage Project.

The nationally significant infrastructure project aims to strengthen the UK’s energy security while supporting the transition to a more flexible, resilient energy system.

MESH will be a new, large scale, energy storage and decarbonisation facility that is expected to provide a supply of low-carbon energy for the UK market for more than 25 years.

Located in the Irish Sea with onshore infrastructure connecting into Barrow-in-Furness, MESH is expected to become one of the UK’s largest integrated energy storage projects - at 300MW/ 55GWh.  It will combine compressed air energy storage (CAES) with natural gas and hydrogen storage to help balance renewable generation and improve energy resilience to offer ultra-long duration energy storage - more than 190 hours.

During periods of low renewable energy availability, MESH's Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) energy resources will be utilised to generate low-carbon flexible power for the UK's grid via compressed air expansion, thermal energy and hydrogen-compatible gas turbine systems to generate electricity.

Jacobs will manage the project’s planning and DCO strategy and delivery, leading environmental planning, technical coordination and stakeholder engagement to secure consent under the UK’s NSIP  planning process.

EnergyPathways is aiming for the MESH project to be operational by 2031, subject to securing the necessary consents and financing.

Jacobs executive vice president, Richard Sanderson, said: “As the UK accelerates investment in nationally significant energy infrastructure, successful delivery depends on a consenting strategy that integrates environmental stewardship and robust regulatory planning. MESH represents an important infrastructure development for Barrow-in-Furness and the wider UK energy system.

“Our extensive experience delivering complex infrastructure projects through the Development Consent Order process will support EnergyPathways in navigating planning and regulatory requirements while maintaining project momentum.”

Jacobs will also support EnergyPathways’ submission to Ofgem’s forthcoming Long Duration Electricity Storage Cap and Floor financial system alongside the Development Consent Order process, leading environmental and technical workstreams and integrating environmental assessment into the consenting strategy.

The scope also includes stakeholder engagement with local councils and regional government, support for a grid connection application, and alignment of statutory consents and technical studies with the project schedule. Jacobs will also assess evolving legislation and planning policy to identify consenting risks and help streamline delivery across the parallel regulatory and planning processes.