7
August 2024
SIMEC Atlantis Energy
Limited
("SAE
Renewables", "SAE" or the "Company")
SAE takes full ownership of
120MW/240MWh BESS project at Uskmouth
SAE has achieved the next step in
delivering its 'Building a Sustainable Future to 2035' strategy by
taking full ownership of the 120MW Battery Energy Storage System
("BESS") project at the Uskmouth Sustainable Energy Park ("USEP").
According to the Company's latest estimates, the BESS project will
generate average annual revenues of £12m and annual average EBITDA
of £9m per annum in its first five full years of operation. The
estimated capital cost of the project is £65m, which includes the
deferred consideration and transaction costs.
On 6 August 2024, SAE completed a
Share Purchase Agreement ("SPA") with Enso Green Holdings Limited
("EGHL"), a joint venture between Cero Generation Limited and Enso
Energy Limited, to purchase all the shares in a 120MW/240MWh BESS
project at its USEP. SAE has paid EGHL an initial consideration of
£299k under the SPA, to acquire 100% ownership of the development
vehicle, Enso Green Holdings E Limited, the vehicle which EGHL used
to develop the BESS project and hold the grid connection, land
option and planning application. Under the SPA, when the project
reaches financial close, SAE will pay EGHL an additional amount of
£3.85m as a deferred consideration, in recognition of their
contribution to the project development to date.
This acquisition is a key part of
SAE's recently announced strategy to become an owner and operator
of its future energy projects.
The BESS project will be built on
the site of the old cooling towers, which SAE is pleased to report
have already been demolished in preparation for the construction
phase. The project received planning permission in January 2024.
The cooling tower site is large enough and has planning and grid
connection rights for a BESS of up to 4-hour duration. For the UK
government to achieve its Net Zero targets 4-hour plus duration
BESS systems will become necessary in the future. This project is
being developed with the ability to expand from the initially
planned 2-hour duration, 240MWh capacity, up to 4-hour duration and
480MWh capacity.
The BESS project's target grid
connection date is October 2026 and it will connect into the
existing grid infrastructure on the USEP site. During the first
half of 2024, SAE completed an extensive tendering process for the
BESS project and has selected a preferred technology supplier and
an Engineering, Procurement and Construction ("EPC") contractor for
the Balance of Plant ("BOP"). SAE is working closely with these two
parties and their supply chain in developing the contracts and
delivery programmes and anticipates construction starting in 2025
and taking around 18 months.
SAE is now working to bring the BESS
project to financial close with Elgar Middleton appointed as
Financial Advisers to assist with sourcing an equity partner and
securing construction finance. WSP have been appointed as Owners
Engineer to support the EPC contract development, prepare for
technical due diligence and oversee construction. Leading BESS
power purchase agreement ("PPA") commercial advisers, Pexapark AG
have been appointed to help with the procurement and negotiations
on the PPA Optimisation Agreement, which will provide the long-term
revenue streams for the project. In summary, the tender process for
the build of the project has now been completed with final project
technical development and EPC contract negotiations well
underway.
This is the second BESS project at
the SAE owned USEP. Completing this SPA will enable SAE to progress
to close the project financially and then build, own, and operate
it.
Graham Reid, CEO of SAE Renewables,
commented:
"We have set a clear strategy to
become an owner and operator of our projects and this announcement
is a key next step in achieving this. A huge amount of work has
already taken place to reach this milestone, demonstrating how SAE
continues to hit its targets and deliver for its
shareholders."
This announcement contains inside information as defined in
Article 7 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014, as it
forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European
Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended, and has been announced in
accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of that
Regulation.
For
further information, please contact:
SAE
Renewables
Sean Parsons, Director of External
Affair
|
+44
(0)7739 832 446
|
|
|
Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated and Financial
Adviser)
Richard Johnson
Rory Murphy
David Asquith
|
+44 (0)20
7409 3494
|
|
|
Zeus Capital Limited (Broker)
Louisa Waddell
Simon Johnson
|
+44 (0)20
3829 5000
|
Notes to Editors
SAE Renewables is a global
developer, owner and operator of sustainable energy projects. SAE
owns the world's flagship tidal stream project, MeyGen. SAE is also
the owner of the Uskmouth Power Station site that is being
repurposed into a sustainable energy park, initially housing one of
the UK's largest battery energy storage projects.
https://www.saerenewables.com/