Bristol-based legal experts working at national law firm Bond Dickinson have advised longstanding client global renewable energy company RES on the sale of a major battery storage project.
The 35MW Port of Tyne project was acquired by the Foresight Group, the independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager. 
This acquisition is the largest of National Grid’s Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) battery storage projects to attract investment from a UK infrastructure investment manager.
The project was developed and will be constructed and operated by RES, one of the world’s leading independent renewable energy and energy storage developers. RES has a global energy storage portfolio of more than 175 MW (212 MWh).
Bond Dickinson’s renewable energy team worked closely with RES’s in-house legal team and was led by corporate/energy partner Sebastian Briggs, supported by energy partner Chris Towner, corporate (tax) managing associate Ronan Lowney, and real estate associate Claire Tucker – all based in the firm’s large Bristol office – along with Southampton-based corporate associate Luke Andruszewski.
Sebastian Briggs, pictured, said: “Energy storage is widely recognised as being key to the UK being able to respond to its future energy requirements given the continued growth of renewable generation. RES’s track record of delivering first-class projects is further endorsed by the successful completion of this sale to the Foresight Group.”
RES managing director Rachel Ruffle added: “Energy storage has a crucial role to play in delivering a flexible electricity network to support the UK’s economic growth and enable more low-cost, renewable energy to be used.
“As a leader in the energy storage market RES prides itself in delivering projects that meet the needs of our clients and society. RES is proud to be working with Foresight as it expands its infrastructure investments into energy storage. We look forward to building and operating a successful storage project at the Port of Tyne.”
Bond Dickinson, which employs more than 250 people in its Bristol office, provides legal services across a wide range of sectors including energy, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, retail, transport, real estate and private wealth.
Major clients in the energy sector include Scottish Power Renewables, EDF Energy Renewables, REG Power Management, Centrica and RWE Npower, as well as other major utilities such as Irish State power company as ESBi and other leading independents.
The firm also has offices in London, Aberdeen, Leeds, Newcastle, Plymouth and Southampton.
