Infraland, a low-carbon developer, and real estate company Boultbee Brooks have launched a joint venture to produce and supply sustainable energy.
The company, called Infrabee, will develop a range of solar and battery sites across the UK and Europe. The two companies have worked together for the past five years; Infrabee marks an effort to combine their collective experience and “shared vision for the future of renewables.”
Infrabee co-director Nick Barber said: “Renewable energy is not something we can leave until tomorrow. We must invest in and develop the infrastructure we need today – so that together we can secure the future of our planet – before it is truly too late.”
One of Infrabee’s directors, Henry Brown, said: “Consolidating our collective efforts and investments under one stronger brand identity will enable us to continue and advance our work in developing and delivering green energy.”
There are 25 sites under development or ready for use in the UK, five of which are expected to be connected in the coming year, the remainder in the next three years. According to Infrabee’s website, the total of 40 projects in Great Britain, Croatia and the Netherlands represent a solar capacity of 635 MW and battery storage of 2.6 GW.
The projects due to be connected in 2024 include an 11MW solar, 8MW battery development in North Yorkshire and a 22MW solar, 4MW battery development in Suffolk. The UK battery projects under development are expected to be completed by 2030 and have a capacity of between 80 MW and 500 MW.
As part of the land lease agreement, Infrabee will cover all associated costs, including planning and permit applications, and will operate and maintain the facilities throughout their lifespan.
The joint venture’s other director, Henry Brown, said: “Consolidating our joint efforts and investments under one stronger brand identity will enable us to continue and advance our work in developing and delivering green energy.”
Brown added that the projects open up a “long-term, predictable and indexed” revenue stream, “not at the mercy of fluctuations such as unusual weather or changes in market values.”
Boultbee Brooks invests in a mix of residential and commercial real estate, and is also looking for opportunities in the data center market. It says it is currently working on a circular model where its investments in renewable energy directly benefit its properties and data centers.
It also works with SUB1, which designs and commissions data centers, and with a battery storage company, Power Sync Technologies.
Infraland’s operating portfolio includes 17 MW of wind turbines, 165 MW of ground-mounted solar, 49 MW of battery storage, 5 MW of commercial rooftop solar, and 134 MW of low-carbon flexible generation assets.
This includes a 16MW ground-mounted solar project in Shropshire, developed in partnership with Boultbee Brooks (pre-Infrabee).
Infraland is also credited with providing development support for a 50MW project in Leicestershire developed by Endurance Energy. The Oakley Solar Farm project received unanimous approval from Charnwood Borough Council in February this year. Councilors praised the planning application, which included more than 2,800 new trees, 605 meters of new hedges, 61 hectares of new flower meadow and 166 hectares of ‘species-rich’ grassland alongside four new natural ponds.
