Nuveen Infrastructure and Exus Renewables are each developing 400MW of a joint 800MW battery storage development project in southern Italy.

The two firms have teamed up to co-develop a series of standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the Puglia region of Italy.

The 800MW total will be divided into four individual projects of approximately 100MW each for both Nuveen Infrastructure and Exus. Construction on the first projects in the portfolio is planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

This partnership is Exus’s maiden foray into the Italian energy-storage market. For Nuveen Infrastructure, formerly Glennmont Partners, the partnership represents the firm’s expansion in the sector, following its 2023 entry with a planned 30MW battery storage project in Finland.

Francesco Cacciabue, the global head of clean-energy investments at Nuveen Infrastructure, said: “As Italy continues its renewable-energy transition, battery technology stands to play a hugely important role in supporting established clean-energy generators, through its ability to manage intermittency issues and associated price fluctuations.

“The quality of existing battery storage technologies means they are now capable of fulfilling this role, and they will be a critical enabler as Italy and Europe look to meet their clean-energy targets.”

Alfonso Cebrián, the head of international business development at Exus, said: “This deal marks our first step into expanding our presence in the Italian market, signalling our intent to establish a robust development platform in Italy that is poised to drive future growth and innovation in the region.”

Natalia Ordoñez, the head of EU development and construction at Exus, said: “Our meticulous approach to developing these projects, with land rights secured and grid interconnection ensured, is part of our broader vision to establish a robust pipeline of BESS across Europe.”

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