Cubico enters partnership to develop BESS projects in Italy

Cubico Sustainable Investments has created a joint venture (JV) with Storaltil, a battery storage developer and consultancy in Italy.

The newly formed JV aims to develop over 1 GW of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects in Italy.

The JV will encompass four projects in its initial phase, incorporating two contributions from Cubico with a combined capacity exceeding 150MW.

Alessandro Asperti, country head for Italy at Cubico, commented: "This strategic partnership with Storaltil marks a significant milestone for Cubico as we enter the dynamic and rapidly growing BESS market in Italy. Our collaboration aims to address critical grid challenges and contribute to the realization of Italy's clean energy goals, aligning with the broader European objectives for a sustainable future."

The decision to form the strategic partnership comes at a pivotal time for the Italian renewables market, given the urgent need for enhanced utility-scale electricity storage capacity in Italy.

A recent study conducted by grid operator Terna, revealed that the country requires nearly 71GWh of new battery storage by 2030 to meet the European Union's ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55%.

Have you read?
Italian centralised storage receives €17.7bn injection
Hawaii says aloha to ‘most advanced’ BESS in the world

Given Italy's increasing demand for storage solutions, the JV is strategically positioned to tackle the grid congestion challenges prevalent in various regions across the country, with a substantial portion of the projects situated in these areas.

A spokesperson for Storaltil SRL, added: “Recognising the significance of battery storage in helping Italy achieve its energy transition goals, we are confident that our collaboration with Cubico will cultivate a robust BESS pipeline and position us as a key player within the sector.”

Leveraging an existing development pipeline of c. 1 GW of Italian solar and wind projects and nearly 300MW of operational projects, the JV further strengthens Cubico's in-country portfolio, whilst developing a foothold in one of Italy’s fastest-growing clean energy sectors.