Pinsent Masons advises Arenko on UK's largest single-site battery storage project

The new energy storage system, a 41MW battery storage project supplied by General Electric (GE) will provide affordable, on-demand power equivalent to the needs to 100,000 UK homes. Pinsent Masons worked to negotiate the strategic alliance between Arenko and GE.

Sited at a key strategic location in the Midlands, the system will commence operation in 2018. Once running it will integrate GE and Arenko’s advanced control technologies, and will be commercially managed though Arenko’s software to digitally deploy energy and access multiple services and system needs. The battery system’s reliability and performance will be underpinned and protected by GE’s long-term support.

The Pinsent Masons team was led by corporate partners Peter Feehan and Carsten Rumberg, and supported by a team from the firm's London headquarters. 

Peter Feehan, partner at Pinsent Masons, comments: "This project will relieve pressure on the UK energy system and provide flexibility when it's most needed. It will help balance the grid and contribute toward security of supply for the UK. Innovative battery storage projects such as this will be vital in improving the operational efficiency of the UK energy grid, while also maximising generation capacity and optimising energy utilisation. It is the first in a number of projects with GE on which we look forward to supporting Arenko."

Rupert Newland, Chief Executive, Arenko Group adds: “Arenko’s new battery system will provide much-needed flexibility to the UK grid, reducing waste and helping to make energy bills cheaper for households and businesses. This project is very significant in addressing the UK’s long-term energy security concerns, enabling the transition to a low carbon energy future. 

“As a leading owner and operator of grid scale battery systems in the UK, we are delighted to have established this strategic alliance with GE to deliver large scale battery energy storage projects. The expertise provided by the team at Pinsent Masons was invaluable in ensuring the deal went smoothly."