Part of the Arlington Group, Arlington Energy Limited is an investment company dedicated to supporting the development of clean energy assets throughout the UK. In celebration of the firm’s win in this year’s Energy and Power Awards we profile it to find out more about the vital work it is undertaking to drive greater sustainability throughout the nation’s power supply market.
Arlington Energy, a clean energy investment company which is completing construction of its first 40MW battery storage and 20MW gas peaking facilities, out of an anticipated portfolio of 300MW by the end of 2020, has been awarded “Best New Energy Assets Development Company” in this year’s SME Energy and Power Awards.
Previously, the UK has relied largely on unsustainable but predictable energy sources, like coal. However, the ambitious targets of “net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050” set in response to reports released this year by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chttps://www.sme-news.co.uk/issues/energy-and-power-awards-2019/24/hange (IPCC) and the Climate Change Committee (CCC), mean that strategies for supporting this transition into clean, renewable energy are more vital than ever. With approximately 80% of total electricity anticipated to be renewable by 2030, technologies that balance market volatility, like battery storage, must be increased.
Arlington Energy are dedicated to leading this move towards a more sustainable and stable energy sector in the UK. Having secured an initial fund of £200mn in 2018, Arlington will be energising the first of its significant portfolio this November; their 40MW battery storage asset in Bedford is set to be one of the largest of its kind in the UK. With their vast experience in finance raising, a further £130mn was raised earlier this year, with more overseas financing due to be confirmed by the end of 2019.
Arlington have partnered with a number of technical experts in the energy sector, including DNV GL and Habitat Energy, to manage their unique and ever-expanding portfolio. They have taken great care to ensure high-quality assets are built to “best in class” standards, designed to embrace flexible merchant-based trading strategies. Construction of the sites is being completed by Smith Brothers, who have worked closely with Arlington through planning, procurement and engineering phases.
Co-founder and Director of Arlington, Matt Clare, said: “I am grateful to SME for recognising Arlington as a market leader in the development of clean, sustainable energy assets. We look forward to an exciting year ahead as we develop our portfolio, proving the invaluable role that battery storage has to play in the future of the energy market, in the UK and across the globe”.
With 60MW of assets energising in November 2019, Arlington aims to have at least 300MW of battery storage and gas peaking assets constructed and trading by the end of 2020. With close to 400MW of assets having been approved for planning to date, they are well on their way to transforming the power sector to support sustainable energy sources in the UK and setting a standard for the rest of the world.
