Ontier advises Return on 318MWh BESS acquisition
Ontier has acted as legal advisor to Return Energy on the acquisition of an 80MW / 318MWh ready-to-build battery energy storage system (BESS) portfolio located across Catalonia and Asturias, purchased from Aquila Clean Energy. The transaction has been described as Spain’s first utility-scale BESS portfolio sale.
The deal
The assets are intended to support grid stability and the integration of renewable generation. Return said the deal is part of its strategy in the Spanish flexible storage market; Steve Sceery (head of Return Spain) said the transaction is a milestone in the company’s plans and supports its aim to reach 800MWh of independent BESS assets in operation in Spain by end-2027.
The team
Ontier’s multidisciplinary team included Pablo Enrile (partner, M&A–Energy), Israel Gómez-Caro (partner, Banking & Finance), Silvia San Felipe (area manager, Regulatory), Paula Rubio (senior associate, M&A–Energy), Pedro de Ussia (associate, M&A–Energy) and Adrian García Pacios (associate, Regulatory).
Return’s team was led by Steve Sceery (head of Return Spain) and included Borja Linares Puentes (general counsel), Bosco Pérez-Pla de Alvear (business development director) and Juan Pedro González Alamillo (development director).
On the sell-side, JLL acted as Aquila Clean Energy’s financial adviser, led by Tomás García (head of Energy & Infrastructure Advisory, Iberia), while Javier Santos acted as Aquila’s legal counsel.
