The Key to Successful Renewable Energy: Investing in Battery Energy Storage Systems w/ Ben Guest, Gresham House Energy Storage Fund (#033)

SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing

The transition from traditional investment in energy production to renewable energy represents a significant shift in addressing climate change challenges.
To help us understand the intricacies of investing in renewables and utility-scale battery energy storage systems, I am joined by Ben Guest, the Managing Director of Gresham House New Energy Division.
Ben has over 29 years of investment experience that spans the investment spectrum across infrastructure, technology, public equities, and venture capital asset classes.
He has been a pioneer investor in battery energy storage systems since the early development days of the sector.
Ben's upbringing was truly global, with parents from Argentina and Africa, leading to diverse educational experiences in France, Japan, Sweden, and the UK. He holds a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College.
Beginning his fund management career in 1994 at Lazard Asset Management, Ben later founded Hazel Capital in 2007. The acquisition of Hazel Capital in 2017 transformed it into Gresham House New Energy Division, where Ben manages substantial assets, including the Gresham House Energy Storage Fund Plc.
The conversation delves into Ben's expertise—in the renewable energy sector, particularly battery energy storage systems. He discusses the challenges of real-time supply and demand balancing, highlighting the vital role batteries can play in not only stabilizing the grid but also providing the key to transitioning the electrical grid to predominately renewable energy.
Ben breaks down the complexities of battery energy storage systems revenue models, addressing challenges posed by supply and demand fluctuations. He also shares his thoughts on the future of renewable energy infrastructure, emphasizing sustainability, carbon emissions reduction through battery energy storage systems, and the evolving landscape of the energy transition.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ben as much as I did!
Show notes: https://sri360.com/podcast/ben-guest/
About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.
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Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Ben Guest's background and career path (02:24)
The shift from traditional to sustainable energy investments (15:24)
The role of battery storage in renewable energy (38:32)
Energy trading and battery management (47:22)
Assembling project rights for energy storage infrastructure (52:23)
Renewable energy investments and impact metrics (59:55)
Primary investors at Gresham House (01:05:58)
Risks facing battery energy storage systems investments (01:10:18)
Challenges around battery production and usage (01:15:10)
Additional Resources
Ben Guest’s LinkedIn
Gresham House
Gresham House New Energy
Lazard Asset Management
Hazel Capital Investment
Cantillon Capital Management LLP