What does YLEM Energy do?

YLEM Energy funds, builds, owns and operates onsite energy generation and storage systems for large industrial and commercial businesses. Their solutions include solar PV, gas peaking plant, battery energy storage and building energy management systems, typically delivered through long-term Power Purchase Agreements with no upfront cost to the client.

Where is YLEM Energy based?

YLEM Energy is headquartered at 10 Exchange Quay, Trafford Road, Salford Quays, M5 3EQ. Their phone number is +44 (0)161 660 2222. No Leeds office is mentioned in their published materials.

When was YLEM Energy founded?

The business was founded in 1991, starting with its first landfill gas project. It rebranded to YLEM Energy in 2016 after more than two decades of operation under a previous name.

Power-Zero is a brand launched by YLEM Energy that brings together their Solar PPA and Optimise energy management portal under one name. It is a rebrand of existing YLEM products rather than a separate company.

Who does YLEM Energy work with?

Clients include Denby Pottery, Unilever, JCB, Vauxhall, Brown Forman, Marlin Industries and Scapa, among others. They also hold O&M contracts with energy investors and operators including Triple Point, SSE and Terra Firma.

Is YLEM Energy hiring?

Their careers page states they are looking for driven people as the business grows, with roles across engineering, commercial and project functions. Benefits include private healthcare, competitive pension, hybrid working and 25 days annual leave with the option to buy more.

Energy storage software / flexibility · 11–50 employees

Ylem Energy

Onsite energy generation and storage for large businesses

ylemenergy.com ↗Founded 1991

YLEM Energy designs, funds, builds and operates onsite energy generation and storage systems for energy-intensive businesses. Founded in 1991, they have delivered over 600 projects across the UK and internationally, covering solar PV, gas peaking plant, battery energy storage and building energy management. They work on a Power Purchase Agreement model, meaning clients pay no upfront capital costs.

What they do

YLEM Energy provides onsite energy generation and storage solutions to large industrial and commercial businesses. Their core offer is a funded model: they design, build, own, operate and maintain the energy system, and the client buys the output through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement. Typical contracts run 15–25 years, with savings of up to 30% on annual electricity bills claimed against grid import costs.

Their technology portfolio covers several areas. Solar PV is delivered through a Direct Power Purchase Agreement, with completed projects at Denby Pottery (2MW ground-mounted), Marlin Industries (328kW roof-mounted at two sites), and Brown Forman (630kW roof-mounted). Gas peaking plant — flexible generation assets that balance the grid during periods of high demand — forms a significant part of their owned portfolio, with over 19 sites across England and Wales and O&M contracts held for third-party owners including Triple Point and Terra Firma. Battery energy storage is a growing area: they acquired 70MW of BESS assets in 2023, have a further 150MW in planning, and completed their first storage project in 2019 at Harewood Whin (1.2MW/1MWh).

Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) and sub-metering round out the offer. Clients including Vauxhall, Scapa, IAC Automotive and Mettler Toledo Safeline have used YLEM's BEMS work to cut electricity and gas consumption, in some cases by more than 40%. The Optimise platform — now rebranded under the Power-Zero brand alongside their Solar PPA product — provides energy monitoring and efficiency management software.

O&M support is available 24/7 and can be tailored to the client's requirements. YLEM holds O&M contracts with SSE, Terra Firma and Triple Point among others, covering gas peakers and CHP units.

How they got here

The business started in 1991 with its first landfill gas project. Through the 1990s and 2000s it expanded internationally, entering South Africa, Central America, China, Poland, Spain, Hungary, Romania, Morocco and the UAE. By 2006 it had commissioned its 100th MW of installed capacity.

The company rebranded to YLEM Energy in 2016. In 2018 it acquired Biogas Technology Ltd. The first energy storage project was completed in 2019, and 2020–2022 saw significant gas peaker construction activity — 30MW, then 14MW, then a further 20MW going into construction. In 2023 they acquired a 70MW BESS portfolio and began planning a further 150MW. In 2024 they launched Root Power with a 2GW pipeline.

The leadership team includes CEO Ian Gadsby, Operations and Engineering Director Stuart Watson (with the business since 1998), CFO Paul Noland (formerly of Deloitte and KPMG), Projects Director Neil Brooks (previously at UK Power Reserve and Forsa Energy) and Commercial Director Simon Mitchell, who has 20 years of energy industry experience including demand side response and energy storage.

YLEM is headquartered at 10 Exchange Quay, Salford Quays, Manchester — not Leeds. The researcher's Leeds evidence is noted as absent, and no Leeds office or Leeds-specific activity is mentioned in the source material. Their project footprint does extend across England and Wales, and several named sites are in Yorkshire and the north of England, but the company's base is in Salford.

What they offer

Solar PPA (via Power-Zero) — funded, roof-mounted or ground-mounted solar PV on a 25-year Direct PPA; no upfront CAPEX required.
Gas peaking plant — flexible gas generation assets for grid balancing; YLEM owns and operates a portfolio of over 19 sites and provides O&M for third-party owners.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) — grid-scale storage; 70MW acquired in 2023 with 150MW in planning; first project completed 2019.
Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) and sub-metering — hardware and software to monitor and reduce site energy consumption; delivered for clients including Vauxhall, Scapa and IAC Automotive.
O&M support — 24/7 operations and maintenance for gas peakers, CHP units and other generation assets, available to third-party asset owners.

FAQs

What does YLEM Energy do?: YLEM Energy funds, builds, owns and operates onsite energy generation and storage systems for large industrial and commercial businesses. Their solutions include solar PV, gas peaking plant, battery energy storage and building energy management systems, typically delivered through long-term Power Purchase Agreements with no upfront cost to the client.
Where is YLEM Energy based?: YLEM Energy is headquartered at 10 Exchange Quay, Trafford Road, Salford Quays, M5 3EQ. Their phone number is +44 (0)161 660 2222. No Leeds office is mentioned in their published materials.
When was YLEM Energy founded?: The business was founded in 1991, starting with its first landfill gas project. It rebranded to YLEM Energy in 2016 after more than two decades of operation under a previous name.
What is Power-Zero?: Power-Zero is a brand launched by YLEM Energy that brings together their Solar PPA and Optimise energy management portal under one name. It is a rebrand of existing YLEM products rather than a separate company.
Who does YLEM Energy work with?: Clients include Denby Pottery, Unilever, JCB, Vauxhall, Brown Forman, Marlin Industries and Scapa, among others. They also hold O&M contracts with energy investors and operators including Triple Point, SSE and Terra Firma.
Is YLEM Energy hiring?: Their careers page states they are looking for driven people as the business grows, with roles across engineering, commercial and project functions. Benefits include private healthcare, competitive pension, hybrid working and 25 days annual leave with the option to buy more.