EDP (Portugal) acquires solar park expert from Flanders
Portuguese electricity producer EDP has acquired Enerdeal, a solar park developer headquartered in Zaventem (Flanders). Enerdeal focuses on on-site solar energy installations at large companies – including the likes of BMW, Delhaize and Nextensa. EDP came on board because the three founders of Enerdeal were looking for a strong partner to help manage the strong growth expected.
Solid growth
"The projects are getting bigger and bigger and so are our customers and competitors,” says Grégoire de Pierpont, CEO of Enerdeal. Whereas five years ago solar roofs with peak outputs of 200 to 250 kilowatts were the norm, the average is now already at 1 megawatt. “We start from 400 kilowatts and carry out projects up to 10 megawatts, often for international customers,” de Pierpont adds.
Scaling up its business helped lead to strong revenue growth averaging 40% over the past five years. The solid growth of Enerdeal is all the more remarkable because solar panel prices are actually dropping. “In ten years, the average price has dropped by 85%,” de Pierpont confirms.
A firm foothold on Flanders’ soil (and rooftops)
Acquiring Enerdeal gives EDP, which is present in 30 countries, a firm foothold in Flanders. Its separate and listed green energy subsidiary – EDP Renováveis – did already have activities in Flanders. Not only does it operate several local wind energy parks, but it also participates in the offshore wind farms Mermaid and Seastar through Ocean Winds, a joint venture with the French group Engie in Flanders.
Following the acquisition, Enerdeal will stop working on large projects in Africa and focus mainly on solar energy projects for large companies in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux). “There is plenty of work and potential in this region,” de Pierpont concludes.
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Reported by
De Tijd newspaper
