Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners snags 1-gigawatt battery storage venture in Arizona

In a significant move towards expanding its global energy transition strategy, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has acquired the Beehive Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) from EDF Power Solutions North America. The acquisition, which took place in March 2025, marks a major U.S. storage expansion for CIP.

The Beehive BESS, located in Peoria, Arizona, is a 250-megawatt facility with a four-hour duration, equivalent to 1,000 megawatt-hours. The project is designed to absorb energy during peak renewable generation and release it when demand surges, thereby helping to balance the grid and manage rising consumption.

The acquisition reflects CIP's priority investment in storage, a trend that is reshaping business models for utilities and investors alike. The Beehive BESS project is the second standalone storage project for EDF in the U.S., demonstrating the growing importance of large-scale storage systems in the U.S. electricity sector as it adapts to an increasingly renewable-powered sector.

The Beehive BESS is backed by a 20-year contract with Arizona Public Service Company (APS), the state's largest utility, which serves 1.4 million customers across 11 of Arizona's 15 counties. The project is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2026.

CIP's CI V fund, which closed in March 2025 with over $14 billion raised, exceeding its target, has the capacity to deploy about $27 billion worldwide. The fund is building a significant storage footprint as part of CIP's global energy transition strategy.

EDF's renewable and storage developments portfolio exceeds 23 gigawatts, underscoring the company's commitment to renewable energy and storage solutions. The Beehive acquisition is a testament to the growing partnership between CIP and EDF in the U.S. market.

As the world transitions towards a more sustainable energy future, the role of battery energy storage systems like the Beehive BESS becomes increasingly important. The acquisition by CIP is a significant step forward in this transition, and it will be interesting to see how this project contributes to the U.S. energy landscape in the coming years.