EnergyPathways (AIM:EPP) announced it has signed heads of terms to buy land at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, securing a pipeline corridor the company says is critical to linking its Marram Energy Storage Hub (MESH) project to existing gas and hydrogen transport infrastructure.
The AIM-listed energy transition company did not disclose the purchase price, calling the commercial terms confidential, and said completion is expected within approximately one month, subject to binding terms, due diligence and customary closing conditions.
MESH is EnergyPathways' integrated project combining compressed air energy storage (CAES), offshore gas storage in the East Irish Sea, and a planned hydrogen and graphite production plant at Barrow, with combined development costs across the three elements estimated at £1.02 billion to £1.20 billion and a targeted final investment decision in 2028.
The land ownership gives the company a corridor for transporting hydrogen and natural gas to its offshore long-duration storage facility and is intended to fast-track the hydrogen industries pillar, with EnergyPathways now pointing to possible first revenues from the hydrogen and graphite plant as early as 2029 to 2030, against its previously stated target of 2029.
Alongside the land deal, EnergyPathways is progressing plans with National Gas Transmission, owner and operator of the National Transmission System, for a gas grid connection at Barrow, and is in talks with an existing pipeline owner over reusing infrastructure already in place.
"Securing land in Barrow is a major milestone for EnergyPathways as we invest in assets to move our MESH project towards development," said chief executive Ben Clube, adding that the purchase "would provide us with the foundation to advance the other critical milestones on the path to a Final Investment Decision for MESH, while accelerating our hydrogen and graphite business on a standalone basis."
Read more about EnergyPathways
- 19/10/26EnergyPathways secures data deal to cut MESH costs by £20m
- 15/10/26EnergyPathways fast-tracks Barrow hydrogen and graphite plant
- 08/09/26EnergyPathways hires Jacobs for MESH storage project
The company pointed to UK government announcements on 21 October, including approval of the Jackdaw gas field, a new £2 billion Energy Wealth Fund and Transitional Energy Certificates, as policy developments it believes support MESH's case, alongside the November 2025 North Sea Future Plan under which government has asked the regulator to urgently consider new licence applications.
The land purchase follows EnergyPathways' £1.75 million placing with a single institutional investor earlier in October, proceeds from which were earmarked partly for acquiring land, pipelines and technical data to de-risk MESH, and sits alongside the company's April £15 million financing package funding front-end engineering and design work on the CAES element.