Pacific Green launches second phase UK BESS strategy

Pacific Green has launched the second phase of its UK BESS strategy with the appointment of a dedicated Development Team.

With over forty years of combined property and energy development experience across the UK and a proven track record in renewables consenting, Development Directors Steven Black and Fraser Blackwood will lead a second phase of UK BESS projects from Pacific Green’s new office in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Both join from the Renewables Division of property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and report to Dane Wilkins, Pacific Green Europe’s MD. Steven and Fraser bring a wealth of experience in delivering complex energy consents in the onshore wind, solar, BESS and transmission infrastructure sectors, working from site origination through the consenting process to project delivery.  

With the 100MW/100MWh Richborough Energy Park in operation since 2023, and the neighbouring 249MW/ 373.5MWh Sheaf Energy Park currently in construction, Pacific Green’s first phase of UK BESS development saw the progression of two strategically significant UK energy storage assets on the site of a former coal plant. Both projects were acquired with planning consent and continue to be managed by Pacific Green on behalf of funds managed by Milan based investment manager Sosteneo Infrastructure Partners.

Now an established player operating in the maturing UK market, Pacific Green’s second phase UK BESS strategy will see the company originate clean energy projects: identifying land and managing grid and planning consents, to expand an already growing global operational portfolio of energy storage assets. In doing so, the business will respond directly to national climate change mitigation objectives and the renewed impetus to deploy energy and grid decarbonisation efforts under the new UK Government.

Dane Wilkins, Pacific Green Europe’s MD, said: “Steven and Fraser bring a wealth of private and public sector development expertise and I’m thrilled that our UK development team boasts such high calibre individuals from its inception. 

“By taking Pacific Green up the development value chain, we will achieve greater control at our energy storage projects, ensuring they benefit from all that we’ve learned across our global BESS portfolio to date. Drawing on their experience, we will also be open-minded to future UK clean energy development opportunities beyond BESS, harnessing renewables development opportunities arising from the UK Government’s effort to accelerate its transition to 100% clean electricity by 2030 and wider net zero ambitions.”

Steven Black, UK Development Director, Pacific Green, said: “We intend to grow an agile and proactive UK development team with an initial focus on building out a pipeline of mid-scale BESS projects and looking towards new opportunity in the onshore wind sector. 

“While the UK market may be mature compared to its European neighbours, the country requires the next generation of well-developed and sited BESS and onshore wind assets to come through if we are to keep pace with our energy policy goals.

“The move ‘client-side’ has been invigorating for myself and Fraser. We’re off to a great start with site shortlisting and advanced discussions with landowners, buoyed by the Government’s proposed planning reforms.”