Pacific Green, a leader in sustainable energy solutions, has initiated the second phase of its UK Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) strategy. As part of this expansion, the company has appointed a new dedicated development team, underscoring its commitment to advancing clean energy projects in the region.
The newly appointed Development Directors, Steven Black, and Fraser Blackwood bring over 40 years of combined experience in property and energy development across the UK. Both professionals join Pacific Green from the Renewables Division of property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and report directly to Pacific Green Europe’s Managing Director, Dane Wilkins. With a solid track record in securing consent for renewable energy projects, including onshore wind, solar, and BESS infrastructure, the new team will spearhead Pacific Green’s efforts from their new office in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The company has made significant strides in the UK market by successfully developing and managing two key BESS projects. The first, the 100MW/100MWh Richborough Energy Park, has been operational since 2023, while the 249MW/373.5MWh Sheaf Energy Park is currently under construction. These projects, situated on the site of a former coal plant, were acquired with planning consent and are managed by Pacific Green in collaboration with Sosteneo Infrastructure Partners, a Milan-based investment manager.
This initial phase of Pacific Green’s BESS strategy transformed former coal assets into crucial energy storage infrastructure. It established the company as a major player in the UK's clean energy transition.
The second phase of Pacific Green’s strategy aims to expand the company’s portfolio of clean energy projects by identifying land managing grids and planning consents. This phase will help the company scale up its energy storage operations, aligning with the UK’s broader climate change mitigation objectives and supporting the government’s push for grid decarbonization.
Dane Wilkins, Managing Director of Pacific Green Europe, emphasized the importance of this development team in driving the company’s future growth. “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-caliber individuals from its inception,” he said. “By taking Pacific Green up the development value chain, we will achieve greater control over our energy storage projects. We are also open to future clean energy development opportunities beyond BESS, including onshore wind, to support the UK’s target of 100% clean electricity by 2030.”
Steven Black, UK Development Director at Pacific Green, outlined the team's strategic focus. “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 while also exploring new opportunities in the onshore wind sector,” he said. Black further highlighted the need for the next generation of well-developed BESS and wind assets in the UK to meet the country’s energy policy goals.
With advanced discussions underway with landowners and the Government’s proposed planning reforms on the horizon, Pacific Green’s new development team is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the UK’s clean energy landscape.
