UK developer Queequeg Renewables has unveiled a pipeline of solar and standalone battery storage projects in excess of 1300MW.
London-based Queequeg is about to submit planning applications for the first projects in its 1.3GW tranche of grid-secured solar projects, with two gigawatt-hours of grid-secured standalone battery schemes also due to enter planning in the months ahead. The solar projects range in size from 10MW to 50MW and will be subsidy-free and powered by power purchase agreements (PPAs).
The battery pipeline comprises schemes ranging in scale from 20-480 megawatt-hours and will deliver capacity and grid balancing services to the grid. Projects are planned in England, Scotland and Wales with Queequeg intending to initially build and operate a number of the assets.
All projects have grid offers and land agreements in place and it is Queequeg’s plan to bring further renewables projects into the portfolio. The pipeline is the culmination of more than a year’s work by Queequeg, which has “built a strong development team” countrywide with key hires from across the renewables industry and more roles to follow.
Photo Credits: Queequeg Renewables
The venture is led by company founders Gabriella Palla and Daniele Stiglitz, each of whom brings almost two decades of development experience in Italy, where they have delivered significant wind, solar and biomass projects with a range of partners. Their initial tranche of projects has funding in place, with the company keen to speak to new partners for future schemes. Palla said:
“We were attracted to the UK by its clear regulatory environment and the country’s drive towards increased renewable generation. We believe that developing flexible assets – including standalone battery storage and combined solar and battery schemes – will play a vital role in accelerating the net-zero transition, through mitigating grid congestion and delivering more stable prices. It will be vital for us to develop strong and positive relationships in the communities in which we operate through ensuring that each project we develop is built to the very highest ecological principles.”
The solar projects are being designed with single-axis trackers technology and bifacial crystalline modules to optimise land use and reduce their footprint.
Storage systems will be implemented alongside the solar projects to combine renewable generation with flexible output, providing stability and frequency response to the grid.
