South West law firm Foot Anstey has been appointed as the legal advisors to what is set to become the world’s largest battery and vehicle-charging network.
The £1.6bn Pivot Power scheme will involve an initial 45 ‘rapid electric vehicle charging stations’ across Britain, powered by giant battery storage installations. 
The network of batteries and rechargers is linked directly to the National Grid, helping to manage costs by storing energy when electricity is cheaper, as well as providing extra stability to the Grid.
One perceived drawback of a mass take-up of electric vehicles (EVs) is that they would require a rapid charging network so large that it would place unprecedented pressure on the Grid, which in turn would need costly upgrades and new generation capacity.
Foot Anstey’s in-house energy team is providing legal advice to Pivot Power and also supported the programme with relationships it has developed over years in the green energy sector.
The firm’s head of energy Chris Pritchett, pictured, said: “We’ve believed for a long time that the future of sustainable energy is in whole-system thinking and creating long-term, beneficial partnerships.
“We’re only at the starting line, in some ways. But being part of the process of getting something this ambitious and game-changing even this far feels fantastic, and it really feels as though we’re pulling into the fast lane.”
The first five years of the programme will deliver, in effect, a 2GW boost to British power supplies as well as aiming to stimulate the uptake of electric vehicles by addressing so-called ‘range anxiety’.
Foot Anstey energy partner Stuart Cleak added: “National Grid and Pivot Power have really taken the initiative here to deal with concerns about range anxiety, and to provide stability and resilience to the Grid.
“This should be a massive catalyst to the switch away from fossil-fuel powered cars to a cleaner transport future.”
Pivot Power CEO Matt Allen, who previously worked at Chippenham-based renewable energy firm Good Energy, said: “We want to future-proof the UK’s energy system and accelerate the EV revolution, helping the UK to clean up its air and meet climate targets.
“Big problems require big solutions, and we are moving fast to put in place a unique network to support a clean, affordable, secure energy system and embrace the low-carbon economy.”
Pivot Power wants to team up with businesses that share its vision and wants to ‘go electric’, particularly partners with large fleets such as local authorities, supermarkets and logistics companies.
Mr Allen praised Foot Anstey for its work on the project. “As well as being on top of their game in energy storage and EV infrastructure, they’ve been keen supporters of Become Energy and our wider vision for over two years now, and it’s great to get the opportunity to engage them on a marquee project such as this,” he said.
“We look forward to a long-term partnership in driving the energy transition together.”
