Global Investment Manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has taken over the 350 MW Mallard Pass Solar PV project.
Mallard Pass was brought through planning by a joint venture between Windel Energy and Canadian Solar, and is the second solar nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) that Quinbrook has taken on, with its 373MW solar + 150MW battery storage project, Cleve Hill, nearing the End of construction.
Mallard Pass covers 880 hectares of land on either side of the main line of the east coast near Essendine, partly in South Kesteven in Lincolnshire and partly in Rutland. It must be connected with the grid via the existing Ryhall.
No financial details about the acquisition have been published, but the development is appreciated at £ 240 million.
Quinbrook says it will use its experience from the Cleve Hill project in the supervision of the construction of Mallard Pass, which will start in 2026. The activities at Mallard Pass are expected to start in 2028.
Cleve Hill was the first NSIP of the UK to guarantee a contract for the difference in allocation round 4, and in November 2024 Quinbrook announced that it had ever secured the largest Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tesco for the project.
Mallard Pass was approved in July last year by energy secretary Ed Miliband. Quinbrook says that, as with Cleve Hill, it will give priority to the local and regional benefits that it can offer for the community; After having delivered a net profit of 67% biodiversity at Cleve Hill, Qinbrook wants to yield a net profit of 71% biodiversity at Mallard Pass. Preliminary analysis suggests that Mallard Pass can also offer considerable opportunities on employment, which can support more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs during his life.
Managing Director and UK Regional Leader for Quinbrook Keith Gains said: “Mallard Pass is another investment opportunity with added value for Quinbrook in large-scale solar energy. Quinbrook is planning to use our extensive global experience in large -scale development, construction and activities of renewable energy sources to bring high -quality sun technology and innovation to Mallard Pass, including the potential for the capacity of the demand side. “
Quinbrook and his affiliated private energy partners will now continue with detailed design, purchasing and construction planning.
