Investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has partnered with GCSS, a joint platform of developers Ikigai Energy and Agnoli Giuggioli, to deploy 2.3GW of BESS in Italy.
CIP has partnered with GC Storage Services (GCSS) to deploy the pipeline of 14 battery energy storage system (BESS) projects across northern and southern Italy. The first are expected to reach ready-to-build (RTB) stage in 2025.
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CIP said the business case of large-scale BESS in Italy is facilitated by long-term contracted revenues under the capacity market (CM), mainly in the north, and the MACSE auctions, mainly in the south. The first auctions of MACSE, the full name of which is Meccanismo di Approvvigionamento di Capacità di Stoccaggio Elettrico, are expected to be held in Q3 2025. Consultancy Timera Energy discussed MACSE and the CM in detail in a recent interview (Premium access).
Roberto Castiglioni, CEO of GCSS, commented on the announcement: “Together with Agnoli Giuggioli (AG), we created GCSS with the objective of developing one of Italy’s largest and most bankable battery storage platforms. Leveraging our UK expertise and AG’s deep local regulatory knowledge, we are building a portfolio of strategically distributed sites across key Italian zones.”
Castiglioni has been a regular interviewee and commentator for Energy-Storage.news and speaker at our publisher Solar Media’s events, going as far back as 2018.
Nischal Agarwal, Partner at CIP, added: “Italy has a clear need for storage and the enabling market and regulatory mechanisms are being put in place to make battery storage projects commercially attractive.”
CIP is investing in the partnership via its Flagship Fund CI V for greenfield renewable energy projects, and its €12 billion fundraise earlier this month was covered by our colleagues at PV Tech. The firm is building large-scale BESS projects in the UK, US, Chile, and Australia. Executives from the firm discussed a trio of 500MW/1GWh projects in Scotland in a recent interview (Premium access).
Held alongside the Battery Show Expo Europe in Stuttgart, Energy Storage Germany spotlights Germany’s rapid ascent in the European storage sector. Once driven by residential demand, utility-scale projects are now surging, with 184 MW added across 44 projects in 2023. With nearly 16 GWh of capacity installed in the first half of 2024, Germany is set to integrate 24 GW of utility-scale energy storage by 2037, creating substantial opportunities.
The UK & Ireland is the most mature and established energy storage market in Europe, with just over 5GW of total operational capacity at the start of 2025. With over 130GW in the pipeline for the UK and Ireland, the growth potential of this market is immense. With this in mind, everyone is asking, ‘how best to maximise battery assets?’ This event has established itself as a key industry platform, bringing together asset owners with the experts who can provide the answers – from optimisers and software providers to O&M specialists and more. The summit will equip the industry for the future, delving into the key pillars of asset management, exploring operational challenges, and spotlighting the latest developments in optimisation and software innovation.
Across two packed days, the Summit focused on three core themes: revenue & trading, the lifecycle of the battery, and optimisation tools. Attendees explored innovative strategies for enhancing asset performance and longevity, with a spotlight on key markets like Germany, Italy, and the UK. Stay tuned for details on the 2025 edition of the Battery Asset Management Summit Europe, where we’ll continue to chart the path forward for energy storage asset management.
InterContinental London – The O2, London, UK
This isn’t just another summit – it’s our biggest and most exhilarating Summit yet! Picture this: immersive workshop spaces where ideas come to life, dedicated industry working groups igniting innovation, live podcasts sparking lively discussions, hard-hitting keynotes that will leave you inspired, and an abundance of networking opportunities that will take your connections to new heights!
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