The latest renewable energy news includes announcements from Aukera, CVC DIF, BW ESS, ACL Energy, Grenergy’s Gabriela solar-plus-storage project, and others.
Aukera Secures €460 Million Credit Facility for 14 GW European Renewable Pipeline
Aukera has closed an upsized €460 million structured credit facility led by EIG to accelerate battery-storage and renewable-energy projects across Belgium, the UK, Germany, Romania and Italy. The financing expands an earlier structure comprising a €200 million initial commitment plus a €250 million accordion. Under the amended arrangement, a firmly committed €260 million Series 2 tranche lifts total committed capital to €460 million. Aukera, backed by AtlasInvest, Reggeborgh and Belgian sovereign investor SFPIM, has close to 1 GW of assets under construction or operating and a development portfolio exceeding 14 GW. The financing gives Aukera capital to develop, construct and operate utility-scale BESS and renewable infrastructure as European power systems add more intermittent wind and solar generation.
CVC Completes $475 Million Acquisition of 272 MW Solar + 1.1 GWh Gabriela Project
CVC DIF has completed its $475 million acquisition of Grenergy’s Gabriela solar-plus-storage project in northern Chile after the asset reached commercial operation. Gabriela combines 272 MW of solar generation with 1,100 MWh of battery storage and represents the fourth phase of Grenergy’s Oasis de Atacama platform. The project is supported by a 15-year US dollar-denominated, inflation-linked hybrid PPA. Construction was financed through a $324 million green loan from banks including BNP Paribas, Natixis, Société Générale, Scotiabank, SMBC, Bank of America, BBVA, JPMorgan, KfW IPEX, Rabobank and ICO. Grenergy will continue providing operation and maintenance services for five years. The commissioning milestone triggered completion of the sale originally agreed in 2025.
BW ESS Starts Construction of 107 MW / 515 MWh Chignolo Battery in Italy
BW ESS and ACL Energy have started construction of the 107 MW/515 MWh Chignolo Po battery energy-storage project in Lombardy, northern Italy. The project near Pavia was developed through the partners’ Italian storage platform and has secured a capacity-market contract from transmission operator Terna, with delivery obligations beginning in 2027. Commercial operation is also targeted for 2027. The four-to-five-hour-scale system will provide electricity during peak demand, support grid stability and help accommodate growing renewable-energy output. BW ESS and ACL entered the Italian market together in 2024 and are developing additional large storage assets, including a 706 MWh project awarded support under Italy’s MACSE storage procurement mechanism. Chignolo represents a major construction milestone for their Italian portfolio.
