In a significant step toward expanding its footprint in the UK and European renewable energy sectors, Abu Dhabi-based clean energy company Masdar acquired Arlington Energy, a battery energy storage system (BESS) developer based in the UK.

By acquiring Arlington Energy, Masdar will have access to a platform that will allow for the development, building, operational management, and financing of BESS projects.

Having brought more than 170 megawatts (MW) of assets in the last two years, Arlington Energy is known for creating, constructing, running, and financing flexible energy solutions.

“Masdar and Arlington Energy share a long-standing belief that greater investment in energy storage is critical if countries are to expand their renewable energy portfolios and achieve their net-zero ambitions. We will be able to provide a more resilient and flexible energy resource, helping to accelerate the UK and other European countries’ clean energy transitions,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive officer at Masdar.

“This partnership creates a business with huge potential, immediately capable of delivering at scale domestically and in other markets in the future, as more nations join the UAE and UK in setting net-zero targets,” said Matthew Clare, co-founder and director at Arlington Energy.

Masdar plans to grow its investment in offshore wind and other renewable energy projects in both new and existing markets, including the UK, in addition to the Arlington acquisition. With investments in the London Array, one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, the Dudgeon offshore wind farm off the coast of Norfolk, and Hywind Scotland, the first commercial-scale floating wind farm in the world, Masdar is already a leading investor in the UK’s offshore wind industry.