From: Mercom India
NextEnergy UK I (NEUK I), a private U.K. fund managed by NextEnergy Capital, has acquired a 107 MW portfolio of three operational standalone battery storage assets in southeast England.
NextEnergy Capital is a specialist solar investment and asset manager.
The portfolio comprises the 40 MW Maldon project, the 28 MW Basildon project, and the 39 MW Loudwater project. All three assets are fully operational and have long-term Capacity Market contracts and established routes to market through operational counterparties.
The acquisition increases NEUK I’s standalone battery storage capacity to 165 MW. It also diversifies the fund’s revenue profile by adding operational assets that are already generating cash. The fund’s strategy combines battery storage with utility-scale solar generation.
Michael Bonte-Friedheim, Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of NextEnergy Capital, said, “This acquisition demonstrates the team’s ability to source, execute and manage attractive renewable energy investments at both scale and pace. Since launching the NEUK I, we have built a substantial portfolio of solar and BESS assets that contribute directly to the U.K.’s energy security and decarbonization goals. As the NEUK I assets transition into full operation, we remain focused on delivering long-term value for our investors and supporting the U.K.’s transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system.”
This acquisition follows NEUK I’s final close with £733 million (~$848 million) in commitments. Since its launch, the Fund has built and acquired a diversified portfolio of over 1 GW of U.K. renewable energy infrastructure assets.
In July, Sonnedix, an independent solar power producer, announced the acquisition of a 260 MW battery storage portfolio in Tuscany, Italy, from Sphera Energy. The portfolio comprises two adjacent standalone battery storage projects. One project has 160 MW of power capacity and a four-hour duration, while the other has 100 MW and the same duration.
According to Mercom’s recently released 1H 2026 Funding and M&A for Energy Storage report, project acquisition activity accelerated sharply during the first half of 2026, with approximately 14 GW of battery storage capacity changing hands in 63 transactions, compared with 6.1 GW in 31 transactions during the same period in 2025.
