Palmer Energy Technology Limited (PETL), the UK battery energy storage startup founded by ex-Aston Martin CEO and former Nissan COO Dr. Andy Palmer, has acquired Brill Power, an Oxford University spin-out known for its breakthrough battery management technology.
The deal pairs PETL’s automotive-grade Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with Brill Power’s cell-level control platform, which boosts safety and extends lifespan by optimizing current draw from each individual cell.
Alongside the acquisition, PETL announced a £5 million Series A investment co-led by FirstGroup Energy Limited, the energy arm of UK transport giant FirstGroup plc, with participation from Barclays Climate Ventures and the University of Oxford.
Barclays previously backed Brill Power and now extends its stake through the combined business. FirstGroup will also take a board seat via investment director Faizan Muhammad.
Brill Power’s software stack, engineered and validated in Oxford, is designed to keep operational data on UK servers, a move PETL says will strengthen compliance and data security as battery storage becomes more critical to the grid. Longer term, PETL aims to expand its UK assembly and manufacturing footprint.
