February 4, 2025

Quinbrook Acquires 350 MW Mallard Pass Solar PV Project in Midlands

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Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has finalized its acquisition of the Mallard Pass Solar PV Project, a landmark 350 MW development valued at £240 million. Situated on the border of Rutland and Lincolnshire in the East Midlands, the project represents a major investment in the UK’s domestic renewable energy infrastructure and is poised to accelerate the nation’s decarbonisation efforts.

Quinbrook Acquires 350 MW Mallard Pass Solar PV Project in Midlands: A Step Towards Energy Security

Mallard Pass marks Quinbrook’s second Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), building on the firm’s experience with the nearly complete Cleve Hill Solar project. Over its operational lifespan, the facility is forecast to generate more than 14 million MWh of clean electricity. This substantial output is expected to displace approximately 665,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, an environmental benefit equivalent to preventing the burning of over 730 million pounds of coal.

Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Leader for Quinbrook, emphasized the project’s strategic importance. “Renewable power projects of the scale of Cleve Hill and Mallard Pass help accelerate the UK’s energy transition and decarbonisation,” he stated. “They also enhance the resilience of our energy supply.” Gains noted that the acquisition offers another valuable opportunity for Quinbrook to invest in the large-scale solar power sector.

Economic and Environmental Commitments

The project’s development timeline targets a construction start in 2026, with full operations anticipated to begin by 2028. This schedule is projected to create over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, with a focus on providing opportunities for local communities. Furthermore, preliminary analysis indicates that Mallard Pass will deliver more than £124 million in local socio-economic benefits throughout its lifetime, providing a significant boost to businesses in Rutland and Lincolnshire.

Beyond its energy production, the project is designed with a strong focus on ecological enhancement. Quinbrook is targeting a 71% biodiversity net gain, leveraging lessons from the 67% gain achieved at its Cleve Hill site. This commitment involves extensive natural capital initiatives to ensure the development not only generates clean power but also enriches the local ecosystem.

Leveraging Proven Expertise

Quinbrook and its affiliate, Private Energy Partners, will now steer the project through detailed design, procurement, and construction planning. The firm plans to replicate the success of its Cleve Hill project, which was the UK’s first solar NSIP and is set to begin generation soon, having secured the country’s largest-ever solar corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tesco in November 2023.

Rosalind Smith-Maxwell, a Director at Quinbrook, remarked on the broader mission. “Solar projects of this scale play an important role in the decarbonisation of the UK grid and our country’s energy security,” she said. “The investment in Mallard Pass is another excellent example of Quinbrook’s focus on holistic and impactful investment in the infrastructure needed to advance the energy transition.” Gains added that the finished solar energy system will incorporate high-quality technology and demand-side capacity potential to optimize its grid contribution.

Sources

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Quinbrook Acquires 350 MW Mallard Pass Solar PV Project in Midlands