NextEnergy launches renewables division with 5GW global pipeline

March 20, 2022 | Renewables | Energy Facts Staff Writer | 2min

Global renewable energy firm NextEnergy Group has introduced Starlight, a new company focused on international renewable asset development.

Starlight aims to expand the Group’s renewable energy project development experience and presence, starting with early-stage solar PV projects in regions where NextEnergy has a presence.

The company will then expand into other regions and sectors, including energy storage, offshore and onshore wind and hydrogen.

Aldo Beolchini, Group CIO and Head of Development at Starlight said: “Our ambition with Starlight is to create an ethical, global project development business that continues to contribute to the NextEnergy Group mission in leading the transition to clean energy.

“We are focusing on developing innovative, sustainable and high-quality projects. It’s a natural evolution as the Group has been successfully developing solar assets since 2008. Now Starlight adds to the Group’s capabilities, creating new synergies and strengthening our position as one of the leaders across the global renewable energy sector”.

According to NextEnergy, Starlight has a target to fully develop 5GW of renewable energy assets within three years across the globe, including the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Starlight has a team of 30+ professionals and has kickstarted with a portfolio of c.2.2GW of solar PV projects at various stages of development and operating assets in Italy and the UK.

A pipeline of 1.3GW has been recently added in Greece and additional projects are being assessed in the US, Poland, Spain, Chile and India.

Gianluca Boccanera, Managing Director at Starlight added: “This is a truly exciting milestone for the NextEnergy Group. Starlight has instantly benefitted from the existing team’s deep knowledge in the solar sector and is seeking to grow its team further as well as to work in partnership with local developers. The entrance in the Greek market for the development of a solar PV pipeline of 1.3GW is only a first step to expand our current leadership in the Italian and UK markets, in conjunction with the early development of other types of renewable energy projects”.

NextEnergy Group operates via its three business units, including NextEnergy Capital (Investment Management), WiseEnergy (Operating Asset Management) and Starlight (Project Development).