The directors present their annual report and the audited financial statements of Ocker Hill BESS Limited ("the Company") for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The results for the year are set out on page 8.
The loss for the financial year, after taxation, amounted to £181k (2024: profit of £1k).
The Company has performed in line with Directors' expectations, as the project is currently in the development phase. The Ocker Hill project reached financial close and entered construction in May 2025.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £nil (2024: £nil). The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
See note 12 for details on events after the reporting date.
The independent auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors believe that using key performance indicators for the Company is not necessary or appropriate for an understanding of the performance or position of the Company.
Climate change
There is not expected to be a significant impact upon the Company's operational or financial performance arising from climate change.
These financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis for the reasons set out in the Accounting Policies.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to small companies entitled to the small companies exemption. Exemption has also been taken from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report.
Basis for opinion
Conclusions relating to going concern
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the members’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the members with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditors’ report thereon. The members are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify an apparent material inconsistency or material misstatement, we are required to perform procedures to conclude whether there is a material misstatement of the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report based on these responsibilities.
With respect to the Directors' report, we also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK Companies Act 2006 have been included.
Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain opinions and matters as described below.
Directors' Report
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the Directors' report for the year ended 31 March 2025 is consistent with the financial statements and has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we did not identify any material misstatements in the Directors' report.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Based on our understanding of the company and industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to Companies Act 2006 and UK tax legislation, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries and the risk of management bias in accounting estimates. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
Enquiries of management around known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations, claims and litigation, and instances of fraud;
Understanding of management's controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities;
Review of board minutes;
Challenging management on assumptions and judgements made in their significant accounting estimates; and
Identifying and testing journal entries to assess whether any of the journals exhibited characteristics of fraud or appeared unusual in nature.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditors’ report.
Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.
Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:
we have not obtained all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
certain disclosures of members’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns.
We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.
Entitlement to exemptions
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion, the members were not entitled to: take advantage of the small companies exemption in preparing the Directors' report; and take advantage of the small companies exemption from preparing a strategic report. We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.
There is no other comprehensive income in the year (2024: nil). All the activities of the company are from continuing operations.
The notes on pages 11 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 11 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 11 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
Ocker Hill BESS Limited ("the Company") is a private company limited by shares incorporated in the United Kingdom. The registered office is The Corner Building, 91-93 Farringdon Road, London, England, EC1M 3LN.
The principal activity of the Company is the development, construction and operating of a battery storage project in Ocker Hill, England.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £'000.
As permitted by FRS 101, the company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions from the requirements of IFRS:
The following paragraphs of IAS 1, 'Presentation of financial statements':
- 10(d) (statement of cashflows);
- 16 (statement of compliance with all IFRS);
- 38A (requirement for minimum of two primary statements, including cash flow statements);
- 38B-D (additional comparative information);
- 111 (statement of cash flows information); and
- 134-136 (capital management disclosures).
IAS 7, 'Statement of cash flows'.
Paragraphs 30 and 31 of IAS 8, ‘Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors’ (requirement for the disclosure of information when an entity has not applied a new IFRS that has been issued but is not yet effective).
Paragraphs 38 of IAS 1, 'Presentation of financial statements' – comparative information requirements in respect of:
- paragraph 79(a)(iv) of IAS 1; and
- paragraph 73(e) of IAS 16, 'Property, plant and equipment'.
Paragraph 17 of IAS 24, ‘Related party disclosures’ (key management compensation).
The requirements in IAS 24, ‘Related party disclosures’, to disclose related party transactions entered into between two or more members of a group.
Where required, equivalent disclosures are given in the group accounts of Eku Energy Group Limited. The group accounts of Eku Energy Group Limited are available to the public and can be obtained as set out in note 12.
Projects in development
These are costs which are directly attributable to the development of battery storage facilities for construction and commercial operation. The main costs during the initial development stage of a project are related to land investigations, planning consent, and early grid connection. By the end of the development phase, the project will reach financial close and construction can begin, with the asset then classified as asset under construction. Costs written off on projects which were no longer included in the long term business plan due to a lack of confidence in the future economic benefits arising from these projects are treated as disposals.
Projects in development are not depreciated.
The company recognises financial debt when the company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instruments. Financial liabilities are classified as either 'financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss' or 'other financial liabilities'.
Other financial liabilities, including borrowings, trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities, are initially measured at fair value net of transaction costs directly attributable to the issuance of the financial liability. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. For the purposes of each financial liability, interest expense includes initial transaction costs and any premium payable on redemption, as well as any interest or coupon payable while the liability is outstanding.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when, and only when, the company’s obligations are discharged, cancelled, or they expire.
Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.
Borrowing costs
General and specific borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use, are added to the cost of those assets, until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use. All other borrowing costs are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they are incurred.
In the current year, the following new and revised Standards and Interpretations have been adopted by the company:
• Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current and Non-current liabilities with covenants – Amendments to IAS 1,
• Supplier Finance Arrangements – Amendments to IAS 7 and IFRS 7, and
• International Tax Reform – Pillar Two Model Rules – amendments to IAS 12.
The amendments listed above did not have any material impact on the amounts recognised in prior periods and are not expected to significantly affect the current or future periods.
In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
The average number of persons employed by the Company during the financial year, including the Directors, amounted to nil (2024: nil). The Directors are not employed by the company and did not receive any remuneration during the year (2024: £nil).
The remuneration of the directors is paid by Eku Energy Limited, which makes no recharge to the Company. The Directors of the Company are directors of a number of fellow subsidiaries, and it is not possible to make an accurate apportionment of their remuneration in respect of each of the subsidiaries. Accordingly, the remuneration of the directors is not disclosed in the Company financial statements but is disclosed in the aggregate of directors’ remuneration disclosed in the financial statements of Eku Energy Limited.
The charge for the year can be reconciled to the (loss)/profit per the statement of comprehensive income as follows:
Deferred tax of £6k (2024: £6k) in relation to unused losses has not been recognised in the financial statements due to there not being sufficient certainty over future profits against which to utilise them.
Battery storage facilities remained in development at 31 March 2025.
The addition figure includes an amount of £11k (2024: £7k) relating to the current period audit fee.
Borrowing costs have been capitalised at a rate of 7.95%, in line with the unsecured loan rate. £122k of interest has been capitalised in the year (2024: £2k).
Amounts due from fellow group undertakings relate to VAT refunds received by Maldon BESS Limited. As VAT returns are submitted as a group, any rebates due are paid directly to Maldon BESS Limited.
Amounts owed to fellow group undertakings relates to development costs paid by Eku Energy Projects (UK) Limited on behalf of Ocker Hill BESS Limited (2024: £3,471k).
Included within the comparative of amounts owed to fellow group undertakings is a shareholder loan with the Company's parent company, Eku Energy Projects (UK) Limited. £127k was drawn down on 12 July 2021, with a further loan of £39k provided on 2 September 2022. Interest of £2k was rolled up on the anniversary of the loan agreement, being 2 September 2023. This loan was transferred to the new shareholder loan with Bloom BESS Finco Limited on 5 December 2024. See note 9 for further detail.
The Company entered into a shareholder loan agreement with Bloom BESS Finco Limited on 5 December 2024. As at 31 March 2025 £4.6m (2024: £nil) had been drawn down. The shareholder loan bears interest at 7.95%, is repayable on demand and is unsecured.
The Company has one class of Ordinary Share with a nominal value of £1 each.
The directors of the company have agreed with the company's auditors that the auditor's liability to damages for breach of duty in relation to the audit of the company's financial statements for the year to 31 March 2025 and the financial statements of its parent, Eku Energy Group Limited (the 'parent') and its other UK subsidiary companies whose statutory audits are governed by the same agreement with the auditor (the 'subsidiaries) will be limited to the greater of £5 million or 5 times the auditor's fees for the statutory audits, and that, in any event, the auditor's liability for damages will be limited to that part of any loss suffered by the parent company as is just and equitable having regard to the extent to which the auditor, the parent company, the subsidiaries and any third parties are responsible for the loss in question. The shareholders of the parent and its subsidiaries approved this limited liability agreement, as required by the Companies Act 2006, by a resolution dated 9 February 2024.