Demand response leader Flexitricity acquired by global energy investment specialist Quinbrook

Flexitricity Limited, Britain’s first, most diverse and most innovative demand response company, has been acquired by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners from Swiss multinational Alpiq AG.

Quinbrook develops and operates lower carbon and renewable energy infrastructure in the US, UK and Australia. Quinbrook is led and managed by a senior team of power industry professionals who have collectively invested over U.S.$8 billion of equity in energy infrastructure assets since the early 1990's, representing a total enterprise value of U.S.$28.7 billion or 19.5GW of power supply capacity.

Flexitricity is the pioneer of customer-side flexibility in the GB electricity market, with over 12 years of operational experience and 540MW of flexible capacity under management from its 24-hour control room in Edinburgh. Founded in 2004 and commercialised in 2008, Flexitricity was the first open-market demand response aggregator in Britain, the first company of its type to enter the GB Capacity Market, and the first electricity supplier to bring business energy customers into the Balancing Mechanism.

Rory Quinlan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quinbrook said “Flexitricity is a perfect fit to help us pursue our ambitious growth plans for the UK energy market. The team has demonstrated innovative capability and will be a force in shaping the market landscape from here with Quinbrook’s backing. We see great scope to expand their business model into a full menu of both asset based and technology enabled solutions for leading UK energy consumers. Quinbrook’s existing investments in battery storage, Virtual Power Plants and Community Energy Networks in Australia and the US, will offer valuable opportunities for cross border co-operation and knowledge sharing that will deliver real competitive advantage.”

Alastair Martin, founder of Flexitricity, said “this marks the start of a hugely exciting new phase of growth and development for Flexitricity. Everyone in the company is delighted to be joining the Quinbrook family at this moment of transition in the GB energy scene. The UK’s net zero carbon legal obligation, combined with National Grid ESO’s projections for transformation across electricity, heat and transport, put Flexitricity’s capabilities and technology at the centre of a clean, secure, affordable and equitable energy system.

“The last few years have been our most successful to date and we’ve seen dramatic growth in our industry. We now manage a virtual power plant of 540MW of fully flexible assets and as part of the Quinbrook portfolio we are confident we will break the 1GW threshold over the next couple of years. This investment by Quinbrook underlines the huge potential in the flexibility industry and its central role in helping the UK achieve net zero.”

Simon Heyes, CEO of Flexitricity, said “Flexitricity will continue to operate as an independent portfolio company, managed by Quinbrook. They are committed to supporting the full potential of Flexitricity’s existing customer base and providing the capital to grow a substantial portfolio of behind the meter assets that cover the full spectrum of a holistic service offering that has few equals in the GB market.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Press release issued by Alpiq:

https://www.alpiq.com/alpiq-group/media-relations/media-releases/media-release-detail/alpiq-concludes-divestment-of-its-scottish-subsidiary-flexitricity

Press release issued by Quinbrook:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200914005169/en/Quinbrook-Invests-in-Flexible-Generation-Grid-Support-and-Demand-Response

About Flexitricity

Flexitricity created the first demand response portfolio in GB and has unsurpassed knowledge of the market and its requirements. The company now has a virtual power plant of over 540MW of flexibility under management.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Flexitricity partners with businesses throughout Great Britain to provide reserve electricity to National Grid. The word “Flexitricity” means “Flexible Electricity”. The company looks for flexibility in electricity consumption and generation, creating revenue for energy users and generators as well as reducing national CO₂ emissions and helping to secure energy supplies.

Their team is fully engaged at industry and regulatory level and has a track record that demonstrates innovation and delivery success.

About Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (www.quinbrook.com) is a specialist investment manager focused exclusively on lower carbon and renewable energy infrastructure investment and operational asset management in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Quinbrook is led and managed by a senior team of power industry professionals who have collectively invested over U.S.$8 billion of equity in energy infrastructure assets since the early 1990's, representing a total enterprise value of U.S.$28.7 billion or 19.5 GW of power supply capacity. Quinbrook's investment and asset management team has offices in Houston, London, Jersey, and the Gold Coast of Australia. Quinbrook's global investment and portfolio company teams are actively developing and constructing a portfolio exceeding 6GW of onshore wind, solar PV, reserve peaking power, battery storage projects, grid support infrastructure, Virtual Power Plants and Community Energy Networks across the U.S., U.K. and Australia.

CONTACTS

Flexitricity – Ross Henderson / ross@mediazoo.tv / 0141 471 8399