Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has acquired exclusive development rights from Simec Atlantis Energy, a renewable energy provider to construct a battery energy storage system in Wales, UK. The 230 MW/460 MWh BESS project, called Project Uskmouth, will be located on the site of a former coal-fired power station. The project will make use of the existing power transmission infrastructure in the area, including its 230 MW grid connection.
Reportedly, Quinbrook collaborated with Energy Optimisation Solutions (EOS) to initiate and develop Project Uskmouth. EOS will design and develop the BESS project in partnership with Private Energy Partners (PEP). PEP will be in charge of equipment procurement, construction, and operational management as part of the partnership. Once commissioned and operational, Quinbrook’s Habitat Energy battery storage optimiser will be used to optimise the Uskmouth assets. Construction work is expected to take 18 months, with Project Uskmouth expected to be operational by the end of 2024.
In April 2022, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners and Primergy Solar secured almost $2 billion in debt and tax equity financing for the Gemini solar plus 380 MW storage project in Nevada, US. The debt funding includes a construction/term loan, a tax equity bridge loan, and a letter of credit facility totaling $1.3 billion. Truist Bank and Bank of America have contributed an additional $532 million in tax equity commitments.
REGlobal’s Views: With increasing renewable energy penetration, energy storage is gaining traction for balancing resource intermittency. Companies like Quinbrook are actively exploring opportunities in this space around the globe with large storage projects already in pipeline.
