Aurora grid connections enable Stagecoach depot electrification for over 1,300 electric buses across the UK

Aurora Utilities has connected a new group of Stagecoach depots to support the rollout of electric bus infrastructure across the UK.

Aurora Utilities has announced the energisation of a further set of Stagecoach bus depots as part of the operator’s ongoing fleet electrification programme, extending the partnership across multiple regions and adding new capacity for zero-emission operations. According to Aurora Utilities, the latest live sites include depots in Aldershot, Arbroath, Ardrossan, Ash Grove, Barking, Barnstaple, Bow, Bromley, Cheltenham, Dover, Dundee, Exeter, Gloucester, Kilmarnock, Leyton, St Andrews and Torquay.

The newly connected sites form part of a wider programme under which Aurora, acting as an independent distribution network operator, adopts and operates the grid connections required to supply high-capacity charging infrastructure at bus depots.

The company states that the upgraded network capacity now supports around 1,330 electric buses, equal to more than 16 per cent of Stagecoach’s total UK fleet.

Stagecoach depot electrification expands with Aurora

The latest additions extend the footprint of the Aurora-Stagecoach collaboration into England and Scotland, with a concentration of sites in London including Ash Grove, Barking, Bow, Bromley and Leyton. These London depots are aligned with Transport for London’s target for public transport and its facilities to operate on renewable energy by 2030.

Aurora Utilities said the connection model is designed to provide grid access for large-scale charging installations at fleet locations. In this phase, the company has connected depots serving urban, regional and coastal operations, enabling the deployment of battery-electric buses across different operating profiles within the Stagecoach network.

According to Aurora Utilities, the current programme is expected to deliver annual carbon emission reductions measured in the tens of thousands of tonnes, alongside the upgrade of depot power infrastructure nationwide. The company adds that its role includes the delivery and long-term operation of the new electricity connections required for bus charging systems.

Aurora grid upgrades support more than 1,300 electric buses

Aurora Utilities received its Ofgem licence in 2024 and is backed by a $200 million investment from I Squared (the same investment platform that in 2024 took over Arriva Group). The company says it is working with transport operators, developers and public sector organisations on electricity connections linked to decarbonisation projects. In the Stagecoach programme, this includes the deployment of grid connections sized for high-capacity EV charging infrastructure and configured for fleet operations.

Stagecoach said depot electrification is being carried out alongside investments in battery storage and on-site solar generation. These assets are being introduced at selected locations to support energy supply arrangements and depot resilience as the number of electric buses increases.

Simon Reilly, CEO of Aurora, said: “Stagecoach is moving at pace to decarbonise its fleet, and we’re proud to be energising the infrastructure that makes that possible. Each new connection brings hundreds of zero-emission buses closer to reality on UK roads. Our team’s experience and strong relationships with network operators mean we can deliver faster, smarter grid solutions that turn net zero ambitions into operational progress.”

Tony Cockcroft, Asset Management and Infrastructure Director at Stagecoach, added: “Electrifying our nationwide depots is critical to delivering a modern, sustainable public transport network. Aurora’s expertise as an IDNO has allowed us to accelerate new connections, and get more electric buses on the road sooner, lowering our emissions and benefiting the communities we serve through more reliable services.”