Jacobs has been selected by EnergyPathways plc to provide consenting, regulatory and key Development Consent Order (DCO) activities for the MESH Energy Storage Project, a major long-duration energy storage scheme designed to strengthen UK energy security and support the transition to a more flexible and resilient energy system.
The company 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 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project planning process. EnergyPathways is targeting operational status for the project by 2031, subject to obtaining the necessary consents and financing.
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, with a capacity of 300MW and 55GWh. The development will combine compressed air energy storage with natural gas and hydrogen storage to help balance renewable energy generation and improve energy resilience, providing more than 190 hours of energy storage.
Richard Sanderson, Executive Vice President at Jacobs, said: “As the U.K. 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 U.K. 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.”
Ben Clube, CEO of EnergyPathways, said: “We are delighted that Jacobs will be joining the MESH project team and working alongside our Tier-1 partner group. Jacobs’ extensive experience in other nationally significant government-led infrastructure and energy projects within the U.K. and their direct experience in delivering complex engineering projects in the Northwest of England will be invaluable as we take MESH forward.”
Jacobs will also support EnergyPathways’ submission to Ofgem’s forthcoming Long Duration Electricity Storage Cap & Floor financial system. The company will lead environmental and technical workstreams while integrating environmental assessment into the consenting strategy. The scope of work 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.
In addition, Jacobs will assess evolving legislation and planning policy to identify consenting risks and help streamline delivery across parallel regulatory and planning processes.
The appointment builds on Jacobs’ extensive UK experience in environmental planning and the delivery of complex energy and nationally significant infrastructure projects. The company has supported major projects through the Development Consent Order process, including serving as integration partner for the Lower Thames Crossing programme and programme manager on the Thames Tideway Tunnel project.
Since 2023, Jacobs has invested in developing expertise in compressed air energy storage technology, recognising its potential as a key long-duration energy storage solution for the energy transition. The company says it has developed capabilities spanning technical assessments across the project lifecycle and cost-benefit analysis of compressed air energy storage compared with alternative technologies.
Jacobs generates approximately $12 billion in annual revenue and employs around 47,000 people globally. The company provides services across advanced manufacturing, cities and places, energy, environment, life sciences, transportation and water sectors.
In the UK, Jacobs employs more than 6,000 people across 15 core offices and more than 35 additional sites, working with central government, local authorities and private-sector clients on infrastructure, energy, environmental and community programmes.