UK-based developer Field has expanded its operations into Italy and is planning to develop a multi-gigawatt portfolio of battery storage projects across the country.
Field is looking to accelerate the deployment of large-scale battery storage projects in Italy, which it will operate itself, using its proprietary energy trading platform, Gaia.
It is actively reviewing potential battery storage sites and intends to announce its first projects in Italy in due course.
The company’s new arm Field Italia is based in Rome and is being headed up by Emanuele Taibi as general manager who is responsible for the establishment of the new arm and its organic growth.
Taibi joins from the International Renewable Energy Agency, where he set up and led the power sector transformation strategies team, developing the programme on power system flexibility, with a focus on storage and hydrogen.
Roberto Nardi has also joined as project development lead and he will be taking projects from identification and inception, through to managing the handover between construction and operation with EPC.
Both Taibi and Nardi bring over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, Field said.
Field Italia is currently scaling up its development pipeline, with several land opportunities being pursued and has recently closed a £77m investment round.
It is also looking to expand its team into double digits in the next few years.
Taibi said: “I’m excited to bring my expertise to Field and help establish its Italian operations. Italy’s renewable potential and complex geography makes battery storage a perfect technology to accelerate the decarbonisation of its power system and we hope that the incoming regulation will help to kickstart what could become one of the top three markets for storage in Europe.
“Energy transition is my passion and it’s a privilege to be joining a talented team of colleagues who are equally as determined to make the transition a reality.
“We can achieve this by developing, financing, building and operating the infrastructure we need to reach net zero, starting with battery storage.”
Field chief executive officer Amit Gudka said: “Ema and Roberto are fantastic hires for Field. Both are great additions to our team and bring decades of experience in the energy sector.
“They will both play an important role in establishing Field’s operations in Italy, a key market as we expand internationally.
“Italy has great potential and a clear need for battery storage, and with the right regulation could become a leading market in Europe’s energy transition.”