Monday, January 26th, 2015
Glennmont Partners has completed the purchase of the Margam Green Energy Project from ECO2 Ltd. and Western Logs Group on behalf of its dedicated clean energy fund, Glennmont Clean Energy Fund Europe II in a £160m deal.
The Margam Green Energy Project will see a new biomass power generation plant built in Port Talbot, Wales, providing 40 MW of renewable energy to the Welsh and UK Energy market.
The purchase and further construction of the Margam Green Energy Project is being supported by debt arranged by Deutsche Bank with the support of Eksport Kredit Fonden, the export credit agency of Denmark.
The completion of the deal marks the inclusion of the first biomass generation in Glennmont Clean Energy Fund Europe II and a significant step towards the completion of the diversified European portfolio of clean energy investment. The Fund has already completed four deals in onshore wind and solar photovoltaics and with the addition of this innovative biomass transaction now has assets in France, UK and Portugal.
Joost Bergsma, CEO of Glennmont Partners, said: “In the current market it is important to be versatile and technically skilled in order to close the right deals. Glennmont is demonstrating an excellent track record of being among the leading investors for producing value in difficult circumstances. Margam is a great example of this and sends a strong message to the market that it is full steam ahead for us.”
Michael Volkermann, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Finance for EMEA at Deutsche Bank, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this important project that will deliver a new source of renewable energy to Wales and the UK.” Simon Sayer, Head of Structured Trade & Export Finance EMEA at Deutsche Bank, commented: “We greatly appreciate the participation of EKF in working with us on this transaction and look forward to continuing our partnership with EKF in financing renewable energy projects around the world.”
Kim Richter, Senior Director for SME & Cleantech at EKF (Eksport Kredit Fonden), said: “Biomass is booming in the UK, and EKF is pleased to help Babcock Wilcox Volund A/S secure the contract for the Margam plant. It is an important project and so far EKF’s first biomass plant in the UK with Babcock Wilcox Volund A/S. The project fits very well with EKF’s continued commitment to support renewable energy projects based on Danish technology. We have been very pleased working with the professional partners involved in making this project possible.”
Fuel for the plant will be sourced from the waste wood market and will be supplied by Stobart Biomass Products Ltd under a long-term, indexed-linked fuel supply contract.
The plant was developed and will be managed by ECO2 Ltd., which has unique experience in developing, building and operating UK biomass plants.
The construction contract has been placed with a consortium consisting of Babcock Wilcox Volund A/S, who will also operate the plant, and Interserve.
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