GLIL Infrastructure and Bluefield Solar Income Fund to invest in UK solar energy assets in phase three of strategic partnership
- GLIL to acquire 75% stake in a c.250MW portfolio of solar energy assets
- Investment marks the third stage of a strategic partnership with Bluefield Solar
- Together, the three stages have created one of the UK’s largest and most diverse solar and battery portfolios, with a total capacity of 626MW
GLIL Infrastructure LLP (“GLIL”), the £4.1bn UK-based infrastructure investment fund, and Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited (“Bluefield Solar” or “BSIF”), the London-listed income fund (LON: BSIF), have invested into new solar energy assets as third stage in their strategic partnership.
The investment – which has been made through Lyceum Solar, the joint venture created by the two organisations – will see GLIL acquire a 75% stake in a c.250MW portfolio of seven solar assets.
The assets span southern and central England and include one operational solar asset, one under- construction battery energy solar system (BESS) and four ready-to-build (RtB) solar opportunities. All sites have grid connections, and several have secured Contract for Difference (CfD) contracts under AR5 and AR6.
GLIL’s strategic partnership with Bluefield Solar was formed in December 2023 when the two funds announced the acquisition of 58 operational UK projects. That deal saw GLIL invest £200 million, and Bluefield Solar invest £20 million in combined 247MW projects.
The second stage, announced in July 2024, saw GLIL and Bluefield Solar inject a further £141 million. This third stage creates a renewables portfolio with a total capacity of 626MW.
Jing Zhao, Deputy Portfolio Manager at GLIL Infrastructure, said: “This completes what is now one of the largest and most diverse solar and battery portfolios in the UK.
“Our partnership with Bluefield Solar is just one of the ways that we’re securing UK opportunities in infrastructure that will deliver stable, inflation-linked returns to our members, while also supporting economic growth and job creation.
“These assets also strongly align with our strategy to increase our exposure to development and construction opportunities, which allows us to really add value by leveraging our experience in operational energy.”
Neil Wood, Partner at Bluefield Partners LLP, the Investment Adviser to Bluefield Solar, added: “In just 18 months Bluefield, with GLIL, has built one of the premier solar and battery portfolios in the UK with an energy capacity of 626 MWs. This transaction underscores the growing role of renewables as core infrastructure assets in the UK.
“By combining long-term capital with Bluefield’s operational expertise, we are delivering scalable solar and storage projects that enhance grid resilience and support energy independence. For Bluefield Solar, this partnership reflects a commitment to disciplined growth, inflation-linked returns, and capital deployment into assets that align with national priorities for decarbonisation, industrial productivity, and energy security.”
GLIL, which was established in 2015, is a partnership of UK pension funds, specially designed to help pension fund members tap into the stable, inflation-linked returns that infrastructure investment offers.
A decade on, the open-ended fund has secured £4.1 billion in committed capital and built a team of more than 30 infrastructure investment professionals. As of 31 December 2024, it has deployed more than £3.2 billion into a portfolio of 14 directly managed assets spanning renewable energy, utilities, ports, logistics, trains, hospitals and schools.
GLIL invests on behalf of Local Government Pension Scheme funds and pools including Local Pensions Partnership Investments, Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Merseyside Pension Fund, and West Yorkshire Pension Fund, as well as Nest, the government-established workplace pension provider.
ENDS
Contact
Issued on behalf of GLIL Infrastructure by Citypress
For more information, contact Calum Anderson on 0131 460 7922 or
calum.anderson@citypress.co.uk
Bluefield Solar – for more information contact Burson Buchanan: Henry Harrison-Topham / Henry
Wilson Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 or BSIF@buchanan.uk.com
About GLIL Infrastructure
GLIL is a partnership of UK pension funds which invests in Britain’s future – creating jobs, supporting communities and helping to power the economy. It is a proven investor, with a fund specially designed to help pension fund members tap into the stable, inflation-linked returns that infrastructure investment offers. GLIL manages £4.1 billion of committed capital, with more than £3.2 billion (as of 31 December 2024) deployed into a growing portfolio of infrastructure assets spanning renewable energy, utilities, ports, logistics, trains, hospitals and schools. It invests on behalf of pension funds and pools including Local Pensions Partnership Investments, Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Merseyside Pension Fund, West Yorkshire Pension Fund and Nest, the government-established DC workplace pension provider. For more information on GLIL, including its history, investment committee and investment portfolio, please visit www.glil.co.uk.
About Bluefield Solar
Bluefield Solar is a London listed income fund focused primarily on acquiring and managing solar energy assets. Not less than 75% of the Company's gross assets will be invested into UK solar assets. The Company can also invest up to 25% of its gross assets into other technologies, such as wind and storage. Bluefield Solar owns and operates a UK portfolio of 883MW, comprising 824.6MW of solar and 58.3MW of onshore wind. Further information can be viewed at www.bluefieldsif.com
About Bluefield Partners
Bluefield Partners LLP was established in 2009 and is an investment adviser to companies and funds investing in renewable energy infrastructure. It has a proven record in the selection, acquisition and supervision of large-scale energy assets in the UK and Europe. The team has been involved in over £6.3 billion renewable funds and/or transactions in both the UK and Europe, including over £1.9 billion in the UK since December 2011.
Bluefield Partners LLP has led the acquisitions of, and currently advises on, over 100 UK based solar photovoltaic assets that are agriculturally, commercially or industrially situated. Based in its London office, it is supported by a dedicated and experienced team of investment, legal and portfolio executives. Bluefield Partners LLP was appointed Investment Adviser to Bluefield Solar in June 2013.
Please note:
This press release has been prepared to inform the external media of information regarding GLIL Infrastructure LLP (GLIL) and its Authorised Investment Fund Manager, Local Pensions Partnership Investments Ltd (LPPI) only. GLIL is categorised as an “alternative investment fund” within the meaning of the AIFMD and is an unauthorised AIF as defined in the FCA rules.
LPPI is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
This press release does not provide advice on legal, taxation or investment matters and should not be relied upon for any such or other purposes.
This press release may contain ‘forward-looking statements’ with respect to certain plans and current goals and expectations relating to GLIL’s future financial condition, performance results, strategic initiatives and objectives. By their nature, all forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve known and unknown risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond GLIL’s control. Any projections or opinions expressed are current as of the date hereof only.
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