London/Milan/Copenhagen – 26 March 2025: In a significant development for Italy’s energy transition, Ikigai Energy (IE), the co-development arm of Ikigai Group, and Italian energy-specialist partners of the law firm Agnoli Giuggioli (AG) have established GC Storage Services Limited (GCSS), a new platform dedicated to developing large-scale battery storage solutions (BESS). The venture has partnered with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) through its Flagship Fund CI V to jointly develop a 2.3GW portfolio of utility-scale battery storage projects across the country.
GCSS combines IE’s expertise in delivering bankable BESS projects, through their advisory services to major infrastructure investors in the competitive UK storage market, with AG partners’ deep knowledge of Italy’s complex energy regulations, permitting frameworks, and regional market dynamics.
Roberto Castiglioni, co-founder of Ikigai Energy and CEO of GCSS, emphasised the strategic value of the partnership: “GCSS represents the ideal convergence of complementary strengths. Our team’s hands-on experience in developing and financing storage projects in mature markets like the UK, Spain and Portugal, combined with AG partners’ comprehensive understanding of Italy’s regulatory environment and local business networks, creates a powerful platform, which in partnership with CIP, will deliver this strategically vital portfolio for Italy.”
The development pipeline encompasses 14 selected projects distributed across Northern and Southern Italy, with the first projects expected to achieve ready-to-build status in late 2025. This geographic distribution enables the projects to capitalise on optimal grid connection opportunities while benefiting from distinct regional market mechanisms and revenue streams.
GCSS represents the ideal convergence of complementary strengths, which in partnership with CIP, will deliver this strategically vital portfolio for Italy
– Roberto Castiglioni
Italy’s ambitious renewable energy targets, which include reaching 162.7GW of installed renewable capacity by 2035, are creating unprecedented demand for flexible storage solutions. The portfolio is specifically designed to enable greater renewable energy integration, strengthen grid stability and security of supply, and facilitate the decarbonisation of Italy’s power sector. A GCSS spokesperson noted that Italy’s strong fundamentals and supportive policy environment position it to emerge as one of Europe’s most significant battery storage markets, with the carefully curated projects tactically located to benefit from both northern and southern market opportunities.
The partnership with CIP, one of the world’s foremost renewable energy investors, through its Flagship Fund CI V demonstrates strong confidence in the Italian storage market’s potential. Nischal Agarwal, Partner at CIP, stated: “The partnership with GC Storage Services represents an excellent opportunity to expand our pipeline of utility-scale battery storage projects and enter the promising Italian market. Italy has a clear need for energy storage solutions, and the evolving market and regulatory framework is creating commercially attractive conditions for battery storage development.”
Giulio Giuggioli, Partner at Agnoli Giuggioli, highlighted the critical importance of local market knowledge: “Our deep familiarity with Italy’s intricate regulatory landscape and approval processes, combined with our established networks for identifying prime sites near critical grid infrastructure, has been fundamental in assembling this high-quality portfolio. We take particular pride in contributing to Italy’s sustainable energy future through this important initiative.”
The partnership with GC Storage Services represents an excellent opportunity to expand our pipeline of utility-scale battery storage projects and enter the promising Italian market.
– Nischal Agarwal
By combining international storage expertise with in-depth local market knowledge, the GCSS platform, one of the largest in Italy, is well-positioned to become a market leader in Italy’s rapidly evolving energy storage sector, setting new benchmarks for project development excellence.
