Quinbrook to Develop Large-Scale Battery Storage in South Wales

Renewables-focused specialist investment manager Quinbrook has acquired exclusive development rights for one of the UK’s largest battery storage projects.

Located at the site of the former Uskmouth coal-fired power station in south Wales, the planned 230MW / 460MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will try to make use of existing power transmission infrastructure and provide a new lease of life to the area. Uskmouth was acquired from Simec Atlantis Energy Limited (SAE).

Rory Quinlan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Quinbrook, said, “The UK’s ‘Net Zero’ transformation is an unprecedented investment opportunity for Quinbrook with a diverse array of attractive thematics. Our ‘whole of system’ investment philosophy puts the emphasis on addressing critical infrastructure needs and enablers for a stable transition to a decarbonized power system. If the UK power system is to meet its 2030 renewables targets (of 95% decarbonized power generation), battery storage will need to increase significantly to address urgent stability and flexibility requirements. Almost 10% of UK grid capacity is expected to be provided by battery storage by 2030, representing an estimated GBP 20 billion1 of new capital investment. Project Uskmouth is a timely example of how specialist energy infrastructure investors like Quinbrook can identify new opportunities of substantial scale and positive impact arising from the energy transition.”

Quinbrook affiliate Private Energy Partners Limited (PEP) and EOS are jointly undertaking the design and development phases of Project Uskmouth with PEP leading equipment procurement, construction, and operational management.

“Our ability to identify and build durable relationships with project development partners such as EOS, help us continue to execute innovative strategies within the UK’s energy transition landscape. Investments in projects such as Uskmouth, supported by industry innovators like Habitat Energy, reinforce Quinbrook’s strategic moves into the supply of critical flexible capacity, storage and grid support infrastructure that enables more variable and weather-dependent renewables to be safely accommodated on the UK power grid,” added Keith Gains, Senior Director, Quinbrook.

Construction is expected to take up to 18 months, with the project commencing operations towards the end of 2024.