BCI to invest in global battery storage platform
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) has entered into an agreement with Macquarie Asset Management’s Green Investment Group (GIG) to acquire an interest in GIG’s global battery storage platform. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2023, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
The platform, Eku Energy, was launched to develop, build, and operate a global portfolio of utility-scale battery storage projects. Eku Energy has 190MWh of projects with a pipeline of over 3 GWh* across the UK, Australia, Japan, and Europe**. Eku Energy’s projects will provide vital grid services in key global markets.
Battery storage is an essential enabler of the energy transition as it captures and stores excess clean energy produced during times of oversupply and delivers energy when there is a shortage or increased demand. Eku Energy will also provide additional services which help manage and balance electricity grids, enabling more renewable energy capacity to connect to the grid and support the decarbonization of economies, while helping secure supply.
We look forward to working with Eku’s management and staff in the ongoing development and expansion of the company,” said Lincoln Webb, executive vice president & global head, infrastructure & renewable resources. “As countries worldwide facilitate the integration of clean energy to meet energy transition objectives, large-scale battery storage platforms like Eku are poised for strong growth, resulting in attractive investment opportunities."
Chris Morrison, interim CEO of Eku Energy, said:
We are delighted to receive the backing of BCI. BCI’s investment recognises the quality of our team and platform, as well as the size of the opportunity for battery storage technology as the shift to clean energy accelerates. We look forward to working with teams from Macquarie Asset Management’s Green Investment Group and BCI as we develop our global pipeline of opportunities in battery storage and establish Eku Energy as a leading contributor to the energy transition.”
About BCI
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is amongst the largest institutional investors in Canada with C$211.1 billion under management, as of March 31, 2022. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, with offices in Vancouver and New York City, BCI is invested in: fixed income and private debt; public and private equity; infrastructure and renewable resources; as well as real estate equity and real estate debt through our independently operated platform company QuadReal Property Group. With our global outlook, we seek investment opportunities that convert savings into productive capital that will meet our clients’ risk and return requirements over time.
BCI’s infrastructure & renewable resources program (I&RR), valued at approximately C$20.2 billion, invests in tangible long-life assets in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, including a portfolio of direct investments in regulated utilities, energy, telecommunications, transportation, timberlands, and agri-businesses.
About Eku Energy
Eku Energy is a globally diversified and technology enabled energy storage business.
We develop, build, and manage energy storage assets that facilitate the delivery of reliable, clean energy and advance the energy transition. Our global portfolio of 3 GWh of digitally enabled, flexible, utility-scale storage projects will provide vital grid services in key markets around the world.
Established by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group, Eku Energy’s purpose-built team brings together specialist technical capabilities, with experience across origination, development, system design, power markets and software optimisation. By combining technical, digital and financial innovation with a local partnership approach and data driven understanding of markets, we develop sophisticated revenue contracting strategies that maximise the benefits of energy storage systems in any given location.
*Company estimates as at August 2022
** Eku Energy is operational in the UK and Japan, with the commencement of operations and transfer of seed assets in other jurisdictions to occur as relevant regulatory approvals are obtained