Solar: Ze Energy wins 40 million euros and heads for Europe
The Parisian start-up Ze Energy, who embarked on the production of solar energy coupled with storage to smooth the production differences, has just lifted 40 million euros.It had mobilized 5.2 million in 2019.
The operation goes through an opening of capital to one of its main customers and partners, the Sorégies group, which depends on the Vienne electricity union.It is with this producer of renewable energy that Ze Energy put into service in 2020 the first photovoltaic park equipped with a storage system in France.It is located near Châtellerault (Vienne).
Supported by its investors who entered the capital in 2019, the French funds Demeter, Everwatt (Evergreen), Ze Way Invest and the German High-Tech Gründerfonds, the company welcomes a new entrant, the Marguerite Fund created in 2010 by the main institutional investorsEuropeans including the European Investment Bank (BEI) for infrastructure and the financing of ENR. Marguerite devient le premier actionnaire tandis que l'actionnaire historique, le holding Ze Way Invest qui regroupe d'anciens dirigeants de Solaire Direct, se dilue en 2e position.
Long -term contracts
While the buyout rate by EDF aims to decrease, "Ze Energy meets a need for flexibility and reliability of supply via innovative marketing contracts", underlines Guillaume Rivron, of the Marguerite fund, in reference to contractsLong -term proposed by Ze Energy, which has developed a remote control tool for its survitaminated batteries.
In France, two solar power plants of 18 MW and 8 MW will be delivered to the first half of 2022 in Gièvres and Mennetou-sur-Cher (Loir-et-Cher), which Ze Energy included Erea Engineering by associating with the bank ofterritories.They are connected to 8 MW and 4 MW storage batteries.Ze Energy provides for other land acquisitions, as well as acquisitions of existing projects or parks.
Three power plants in Italy and Germany
"We are not intended to be only a promoter.We invest by taking 51 % of the projects, and by contributing to the exploitation, ”specifies Mathieu Lassagne, who directs around 20 employees and who plans to recruit around twenty additional people.
On the other hand, this contribution will allow internationalization to continue."We have just won two calls for tenders in Italy and one in Germany.We have opened a commercial office in Munich, and it is planned in southern Europe, ”specifies Mathieu Lassagne, who feeds ambitions in Spain.
Ze Energy has a project portfolio of more than 300 MW in photovoltaic solar and more than 120 MW of battery.By 2025, it aims for a park of 800 MW and a stored power of more than 300 MW, for an estimated turnover of 60 million euros.
Read also:
Equans: four questions about the giant acquisition of Bouygues