Norton Rose Fulbright advises Quinbrook on acquisition of 350MW solar and battery storage project

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (“Quinbrook”) on its acquisition of a consented 350MW Solar + Battery storage project, located in Kent, UK (“Project Fortress”). Quinbrook expects to commence construction of the project in the first half of 2022.

Quinbrook is a specialist global investment manager focused exclusively on renewables, storage and grid support infrastructure investment. 

Once operational, Fortress is expected to be the largest single site solar PV installation in the UK, and is more than three times the size of the UK’s next largest consented solar PV project. The addition of battery storage to large scale solar generation at Fortress is designed to provide critical support to improve security and reliability for the UK power grid and help continue the UK’s sustainable drive to Net Zero.

Jason Moss, London-based corporate partner who led on this transaction, commented: 

“We continue to see more energy storage projects coming through, illustrating the ever growing maturity of the UK’s solar and battery storage markets. We are pleased to have advised Quinbrook on this landmark transaction, adding to its already significant portfolio of projects.”

Rob Marsh, co-chair of Norton Rose Fulbright’s renewable energy practice added: 

“This further demonstrates that battery storage in the UK has “tipped”. As the volume of intermittent generation in the UK energy mix increases at pace, these solutions will become increasingly important and this project is significant for both Quinbrook and the UK sector.” 

The team also included partners Wasim Khan (real estate), Sarah Fitzpatrick (planning), Andrew Hedges (regulatory) and Matthew Hodkin (tax). The team was assisted by counsels Lucy Bruce Jones (health, safety and environment) and Carina Wentzel (planning), senior associate Andrew Davies (corporate) and associates Louise Finnegan (corporate), Florence Childs (corporate), Will Scott (tax), Charles Winch (energy, projects) Olivia Cook (environmental, health and safety), Maria Sturla and Juliette Kelly (both real estate).