Alpiq Buys 90% of Harmony Energy to Become Top European BESS Player
Swiss energy group Alpiq is acquiring a 90% stake in UK BESS developer-operator Harmony Energy, adding 400 MW under construction and a multi-gigawatt battery storage pipeline.
Key Takeaways
Alpiq is acquiring a 90% stake in UK-based Harmony Energy, announced July 9, 2026, instantly making the Swiss group one of Europe's largest BESS players; financial terms were not disclosed.
The deal adds about 400 MW of battery storage under construction, including a UK site targeting Q3 2026 grid connection, plus a multi-gigawatt pipeline across the UK, Germany, France and Poland.
Harmony Energy has already delivered 18 grid-scale BESS projects totalling more than 700 MW and will keep its own brand and management, with co-founder Peter Kavanagh staying as CEO and retaining 10%.
Alpiq's Head of BESS Christoph Bellin will join Harmony Energy's Management Board while remaining in his Lausanne role.
The acquisition builds on Alpiq's earlier purchases of Harmony's 100 MW Cheviré site and a second 100 MW French project, amid a broader wave of European battery storage consolidation.
Kaan Tınmaz
Swiss energy services group Alpiq has agreed to acquire a 90% stake in UK-based Harmony Energy, one of Europe's leading developers and operators of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). The deal, announced July 9, 2026, immediately positions Alpiq as one of the largest BESS players on the continent.
What Alpiq is buying
The acquisition adds roughly 400 MW of assets under construction, including a UK site targeted for Q3 2026 grid connection, plus a multi-gigawatt pipeline across the UK, Germany, France and Poland. Harmony Energy has already delivered 18 grid-scale BESS projects totalling more than 700 MW. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Continuity for Harmony Energy
Following completion, Harmony Energy will continue to operate under its own brand and management, with co-founder Peter Kavanagh remaining CEO and retaining a 10% shareholding. Christoph Bellin, Alpiq's Head of BESS, will join Harmony Energy's Management Board while continuing in his Lausanne role.
Why the deal matters
The transaction extends a wave of European battery storage consolidation as grid flexibility and data-centre demand collide. It builds on Alpiq's earlier purchases of Harmony's 100 MW Cheviré site in France and a second 100 MW French project, and dovetails with adjacent moves such as Eni's 16 GWh LFP gigafactory in Brindisi and Paladin Power's solid-state whole-home battery. It also cements Alpiq's flexibility strategy as European utilities compete with financial buyers for BESS assets, similar to the pressure driving Kraken Technology's $175M Series B.
Reporting based on coverage from Alpiq, Harmony Energy, Energy-Storage.News and Renewables Now.
Alpiq is buying 90% of UK BESS developer-operator Harmony Energy, while co-founder and CEO Peter Kavanagh retains the remaining 10%. The price was not disclosed.
What assets does the deal include?
Roughly 400 MW of battery storage under construction, including a UK site targeting grid connection in Q3 2026, plus a multi-gigawatt development pipeline across the UK, Germany, France and Poland. Harmony has already delivered 18 grid-scale projects totalling over 700 MW.
Will Harmony Energy change after the acquisition?
No major changes: Harmony Energy will continue operating under its own brand and management, with Peter Kavanagh remaining CEO. Alpiq's Head of BESS, Christoph Bellin, will join its Management Board.
Why does the acquisition matter for the European energy market?
It positions Alpiq among Europe's largest battery storage players and reflects accelerating BESS consolidation, driven by grid flexibility needs and data-centre demand, as utilities compete with financial buyers for storage assets.
