Palmer Energy Technology deepens partnership with First Bus through largest turnkey battery project to date

Palmer Energy Technology Ltd, PETL, has announced a significant expansion of its relationship with First Bus, one of the UK’s leading bus operators, with six live projects now underway across the UK. The programme strengthens collaboration between the two organisations as First Bus continues to invest in innovative energy infrastructure to support fleet electrification and operational resilience.

The centrepiece of the expanded partnership is PETL’s largest project to date, a full turnkey delivery of a 4.2MWh, 2.15MW battery energy storage system and transformer at First Bus’s Aberdeen site. PETL is taking end to end responsibility for system supply, civil works, engineering and commissioning, marking an important milestone in the company’s delivery capability.

Central to the performance of the system is Brill Power’s battery management system (BMS) and energy management system (EMS) software, which provide the intelligence layer underpinning the project. The platform enables optimisation of battery operation in real time, maximising usable energy capacity, extending battery lifetime, and improving overall system efficiency. By dynamically balancing battery performance and intelligently managing charging and discharging behaviour, the Brill Power platform helps unlock greater operational and commercial value from the asset over its lifetime.

The Aberdeen project also represents a UK first for PETL, with the installation of an SF6-free transformer, among the first of its kind to be deployed domestically. Alongside supplying the battery system, PETL is designing and manufacturing the transformer, a capability the company is now bringing to market as part of its broader offering. The system will play a role in adding stability to the local grid and is currently under construction, with commissioning expected in early Q2.

The project also supports First Bus’s wider exploration of second-life battery applications, where retired EV batteries can be repurposed for static energy storage.

In parallel, PETL is delivering approximately 500kWh of battery storage at four additional First Bus sites. These systems are designed to capture excess on site solar generation, reduce emissions and optimise exposure to time of use energy tariffs, lowering operating costs. Battery storage systems can also help operators manage grid constraints and optimise depot infrastructure requirements as electrification scales. These sites are expected to go live in May 2026.

Andy Palmer, CEO and Co-Founder of Palmer Energy Technology, said:

“This programme with First Bus reflects the direction of travel for Palmer Energy, combining storage and grid support at meaningful scale. Taking full responsibility for delivery on our largest project to date is a strong endorsement of our technical depth, and the introduction of SF6-free transformers signals how we intend to push cleaner infrastructure into the mainstream.”

David Seaton, Head of Construction at First Bus, said:“Energy resilience and smart infrastructure are becoming increasingly important as we scale our zero-emission operations across the UK. Our partnership with Palmer Energy Technology is helping us explore how battery storage and intelligent energy management can support both operational efficiency and wider grid stability.

“The Aberdeen project is particularly exciting, not only because of its scale on a constrained site, but because it demonstrates the kind of innovative, lower-carbon infrastructure solutions that will be needed to support the transition to net zero transport.”

First Bus is one of the UK’s largest bus operators, carrying millions of passengers every year and operating around 1,500 zero-emission buses across the country. Alongside electrifying its fleet and depots, the business is investing in smarter energy infrastructure solutions to support operational resilience, energy flexibility and long-term decarbonisation goals.

ENDS

About Palmer Energy Technology Limited

Palmer Energy Technology Limited (PETL) is a UK-based Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) OEM, founded by Dr Andy Palmer, CMG and Wei Shao. PETL is focused on the design, development, and deployment of advanced energy storage solutions for commercial, industrial, and grid-scale applications. The company delivers integrated battery energy storage systems engineered for performance, reliability, and operational flexibility across the evolving energy sector.

Through its wholly owned technology subsidiary, Brill Power, Palmer Energy Technology incorporates advanced battery management systems (BMS) and intelligent battery optimisation technology to improve battery lifetime, safety, efficiency, and system performance.