California Hosts Second Annual BESS Safety Symposium

On August 18, 2026, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) held a public meeting to consider Portland General Electric's waiver of competitive bidding rules for the acquisition of the Nottingham BESS project. OPUC staff supported the waiver request, which would allow the utility to proceed with the battery storage asset outside standard procurement procedures. The Nottingham project is part of Portland General Electric's broader strategy to integrate storage into its resource portfolio as Oregon advances its clean energy targets. The Commission's consideration of the waiver reflects the practical challenges utilities face in procuring storage through traditional competitive processes.

Natural Power announced on August 19, 2026, that it supported E Energy Invest, the investment vehicle of the Strioga Family Foundation, in acquiring a minority share in a battery energy storage system project in Italy. The transaction marks the client's first investment in Italy's rapidly growing energy storage market. Italy has emerged as one of Europe's most active BESS markets, driven by high solar penetration, grid congestion in the south, and regulatory reforms enabling standalone storage participation in energy markets. Natural Power's advisory role encompassed technical and commercial due diligence, reflecting the sophisticated support required by institutional investors entering the European storage sector.

On August 6, 2026, Alpiq completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Harmony Energy, a pan-European developer and operator of battery energy storage systems, with technical due diligence support from Natural Power. The transaction strengthens Alpiq's position in flexible, low-carbon energy infrastructure and brings together a development platform with a multi-gigawatt pipeline across key European markets. Harmony Energy's portfolio spans the UK, Ireland, and continental Europe, with a focus on utility-scale standalone and co-located storage projects. The acquisition reflects the ongoing consolidation in European storage, where utilities and infrastructure investors are actively acquiring development platforms to secure pipeline access and operational expertise.