ContourGlobal, an energy platform owned by private equity giant KKR, has acquired 1.6GW of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects across Italy, positioning itself as a key player in the country’s growing storage sector. The acquired projects represent up to 9.5GWh of energy capacity and are strategically aligned with the upcoming MACSE auctions launched by Terna, Italy’s transmission system operator.

Acquisition Overview

• The bulk of the acquisition involves 1.5GW from an unnamed Italian developer, split into:

  • A 750MW tranche of three projects in Southern Italy, currently in advanced permitting and eligible for MACSE’s first auction round.

  • An early-stage pipeline of another 750MW.

• An additional 98MW BESS project in Southern Italy has been secured from an international developer.

• All projects are expected to be operational by 2028, with storage durations ranging from 4 to 8 hours.

Focus on MACSE Auctions

The acquisitions strategically target MACSE (Mechanismo di Approvvigionamento di Capacità di Stoccaggio Energetico) auctions, a key regulatory mechanism supporting grid-scale energy storage in Italy. The MACSE scheme offers 15-year capacity contracts, boosting investor confidence and project bankability. The initiative supports Italy’s national goal of deploying 50GWh of new energy storage capacity by 2030.

Market Impact & Strategic Significance

ContourGlobal's entry into the Italian storage market is a major move as Southern Italy, rich in solar PV capacity, emerges as a storage hotspot. The company's existing 100MW PV portfolio in Italy will be complemented by these new BESS assets. Globally, ContourGlobal also holds significant projects like the Oasis de Atacama solar-plus-storage development in Chile.

With these acquisitions, KKR and ContourGlobal signal long-term commitment to the European energy transition and position themselves to capitalize on one of Europe’s most attractive and bankable storage markets.