Aegis Energy today announces that it has secured commitments of £100 million from Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (Quinbrook), a specialist global investment manager.
This investment kicks off the construction of the UK’s first clean, multi-energy recharging and refuelling facilities for commercial vehicles. The network of hubs will meet the needs of all truck and van operators transitioning to cleaner fuels, including electric, HVO, hydrogen and bio-CNG.
Transport is the highest emitting sector in the UK, accounting for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions, while commercial vehicles contribute 10% of the UK’s total emissions. There is growing regulatory pressure to decarbonise – with sales bans on non-zero emission vans and trucks from 2035-40 – while consumers are demanding more sustainable products and services, making the transition a key strategic priority for logistics operators.
However, the energy transition demands considerable growth in infrastructure provision. Installing depot infrastructure is often impractical or unscalable, particularly where logistics operators lease their premises or there’s a grid constraint. Meanwhile over half of van drivers (52%) have no access to at-home charging.
By building first-of-its-kind public infrastructure, Aegis Energy will deliver an essential missing piece that will enable the next wave of low and zero-emission trucks and vans to hit UK roads and help drive forward the clean energy transition. Aegis Energy is actively looking to partner with more fleet operators across the UK to help them navigate the transition.
Once ramped up, an average Aegis Energy site is expected to reduce carbon equivalent emissions by approximately 14,300 tonnes per annum.
The investment from Quinbrook represents its first foray into sustainable transport, complementing its broad portfolio of net zero transition investments across the UK, US and Australia in areas such as solar and storage, grid support, and power solutions for energy intensive industries.
An initial five-station network will be completed by the end of 2027, with stations planned in Sheffield, Immingham, Warrington, Corby and Towcester. Aegis Energy has secured sizeable grid connections in over 5 locations, and will begin construction on the first of these stations in 2025, scheduled to open in early 2026. Aegis Energy plans to create a broader network of up to 30 hubs by the end of the decade, becoming a leader in low carbon infrastructure and e-mobility.
In addition to bookable high-speed electric charging, Aegis Energy designs its hubs to serve other low carbon fuels including HVO and AdBlue, hydrogen and bio-CNG. Each hub will have the capacity to charge/refuel approximately 40+ HGVs and 25+ vans simultaneously. The hubs will also provide safe and secure truck parking and driver facilities that include clean toilets and showers, good food and calm spaces.
Christopher Thorneycroft-Smith, Co-founder at Aegis Energy, said, “There is growing pressure from regulators and consumers for commercial vehicles to decarbonise, yet the lack of appropriate infrastructure is typically #1 or #2 on the list of barriers for fleet operators. Building depot infrastructure can be complex and grid connections are not easy, or cheap, to secure. Not only this, but long-haul operations require a top-up charge, and for van drivers, when at-home charging isn’t a practical solution, they lose time waiting to charge elsewhere.
“Quinbrook’s funding will help us ensure that critical energy infrastructure is reliably available where our customers need it, and support millions of vehicles to make a once-in-a-multi-generational change.”
Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Lead for Quinbrook, said, “Targets under the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate highlight the existing gaps in the infrastructure needed to provide accessible clean energy to transport fleets. This presents significant opportunities for Aegis Energy to build market-leading refuelling hubs and we look forward to supporting its growth and expansion throughout the country.”
Cameron Barney Herbst Hilgenfeldt (CBHH) was financial advisor to Aegis Energy alongside ERM (commercial) and Dentons (legal). Quinbrook was advised on the investment by Norton Rose Fulbright (legal), Arup (commercial and technical), PKF Francis Clark (financial and tax) and Locktons (insurance).
