Chiswick Company Sets High Target for Sustainable Energy Projects
Queequeg Renewables develops solar farms and onshore wind
A solar farm in Italy developed by the group
Queequeg Renewables, the Chiswick-based developer of renewable energy sites, is on track to submit planning permission for more than a dozen renewable energy projects in the UK with a combined installed capacity of 750MW by the end of June.
The projects cover a range of renewable energy schemes including sites for solar installations, onshore wind and also Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to store energy from solar and onshore wind.
The projects are in addition to Queequeg’s submission to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council before Christmas for a new 40MW battery energy storage facility near Stockport.
According to Queequeg, which has its offices on Turnham Green Terrace, the UK is already one of the most advanced markets in the world for distributed energy projects. Factors that are driving investment and planning for renewable schemes across the country include new innovations in renewable technologies plus better access to the national energy grid.
“The UK is one of the most advanced markets in the world for distributed energy projects,” said Mark Roberts, Project Development Director at Queequeg Renewables. “These projects are key to the UK’s energy transition in accordance with its net zero targets.
“From a policy perspective, the UK has ambitious targets in place for reducing carbon emissions and growing the contribution of renewables to the country’s energy mix,” explained Roberts. “Policies such as the 2008 Climate Change Act and the Renewable Energy Roadmap have put in place a regulatory framework that encourages investment in long-term renewable schemes.”
He continued, “Ongoing advances in solar, wind and battery storage technologies also improve the feasibility and efficiency of proposed projects, which in turn makes them more attractive to investors and planners. And as installation costs for renewables fall and become more competitive versus traditional energy sources, developers can secure funding and gain planning approval for their proposed projects more easily.
“Another important development is much better access to the national grid. Previously, long connection queues delayed renewable installations from connecting to the grid and delivering their energy. But recent changes in distribution and transmission policies by grid operators have removed these obstacles and made connecting and monetising the energy generated by renewables faster and easier for developers.
“Finally, customer demand for clean, carbon-free renewable energy together with concerns about energy security have both risen over recent years. Diversifying the energy mix and growing the contribution from renewables helps the UK to become more energy independent and preserve the environment as well.”
Against this backdrop, Roberts is mindful of the concerns and priorities for landowners who are considering leasing their land as a going concern for use by renewable developers.
“Landowners seek trustworthy, dependable professionals with the insight, expertise and experience to deliver renewable schemes,” he said. “A single renewable scheme could be operational on a landowner’s property for up to 40 years. In such a long process, honesty, accountability and good communication between all parties is essential.”
“Queequeg’s senior management team between them has more than one hundred years of experience in the renewables sector, and with our level of insight we can select sites for projects that are commercially viable, have the required grid connectivity, and which are also free from serious planning constraints. And where planning constraints do exist, we take a proactive approach to working with them.”
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February 3, 2024