Technical Due Diligence Across Solar, Wind and BESS Projects
Natural Power has supported Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF) on the £548 million sale of a significant portfolio of UK renewable energy assets to Drax Group plc. Completed on 31 July 2026, the transaction sees Drax acquire BSIF alongside a substantial portfolio of operational and development-stage solar and wind projects. The acquisition includes 0.9GW of operating and under-construction solar and wind assets, as well as a gross development pipeline of 2.9GW, marking a significant expansion of Drax’s renewable generation portfolio.
Natural Power’s Advisory and Analytics team acted as Technical Advisor to BSIF, providing technical due diligence and delivering pre-construction and post-construction yield assessments across the portfolio. The work covered 1.2GW of operational solar and wind projects, alongside a further 1.3GW of solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in development. This required a detailed assessment of a diverse range of renewable energy technologies, with the team providing the technical analysis needed to support the transaction within a demanding timeframe.
The scale of the portfolio presented a particular challenge. To assess the operational assets efficiently, Natural Power completed a portfolio-level post-construction yield assessment (PCYA) covering all 132 projects, alongside detailed PCYAs for a sample of 20 operational solar farms. This combination of portfolio-wide analysis and more detailed assessment provided BSIF with a consistent view of the assets while allowing specific projects to be examined in greater depth.
Solar, Wind and BESS Analysis
The assignment covered a broad range of renewable energy technologies, including operational and development-stage solar and wind projects, as well as battery energy storage systems.
Aaron Dickinson, Senior Energy Analyst at Natural Power, said:
“This was a significant and complex transaction, not least because of the scale and diversity of the portfolio. Our team was able to provide BSIF with technical due diligence and yield assessments across both the operational and development portfolios, covering all wind, solar and BESS technologies.”
He added:
“Taking a portfolio-level approach allowed us to assess a substantial volume of projects efficiently, while providing the technical insight required to support the transaction. We were delighted to work with BSIF on this major deal and to bring together the breadth of expertise from across our Advisory and Analytics team.”
£548m Drax Acquisition Completes
The acquisition was completed on 31 July 2026 following shareholder approval and a court hearing, bringing a substantial portfolio of renewable energy assets into Drax’s business. The deal includes 0.9GW of operating and under-construction solar and wind projects, as well as a gross development pipeline of 2.9GW. It also marks Drax’s first move into solar and wind generation, expanding its renewable energy portfolio as demand for low-carbon electricity continues to grow.
Renewable Energy Expertise
Natural Power provides independent technical, commercial and environmental expertise to renewable energy projects and transactions at every stage of their lifecycle. Its Advisory and Analytics team works with investors, developers, lenders and asset owners, providing the specialist analysis needed to understand projects, assess risk and support investment and development decisions.
Its experience spans a wide range of technologies, including onshore wind, solar, renewable heat, energy storage and offshore projects. This breadth of expertise allows the team to support clients across both individual projects and large, complex portfolios, as demonstrated by its work on the BSIF transaction. Technical due diligence and independent analysis can provide investors and asset owners with a clearer understanding of an asset’s performance, potential risks and long-term prospects.
About Natural Power
Natural Power is an independent renewable energy consultancy and service provider working with clients across the global renewable energy sector. The company employs more than 600 people across 13 international offices and supports projects throughout their lifecycle, from early feasibility and development through construction and operations, as well as during acquisitions, sales and other transactions.
To find out more about Natural Power’s renewable energy project analysis and advisory services, visit the company’s website.
