23 October 2020, Hamburg-based Connected Infrastructure Capital GmbH (CIC) acquired 100% of the shares in ECN Wind Energy Facilities B.V. (EWEF). EWEF is a unique wind farm because it is a combination of a test farm with operational turbines and a farm on which prototype turbines can be installed. Ventolines Financial Advisory advised the vendor in the sales process where the process of international market demand, selection and negotiation was successfully guided.

The parties

EWEF was founded by research agency ECN (now part of TNO) and owns a wind farm in the Wieringermeer which, together with the recently opened Princess Ariane Wind Farm, is part of the Wieringermeer Wind Farm Plan. This is the largest onshore wind farm in the Netherlands. The buyer of the shares is CIC EWEF B.V., a Dutch subsidiary of CIC. In addition to CIC, local parties hold 50% of the share of the wind farm that has already been put into operation.

The wind farm

The wind farm consists of two parts. One part consists of the wind farm that became operational in 2019 with 8 Vestas V126 turbines with a total capacity of 30 MW. This will enable various studies and measurements to be carried out. In addition, there is a test farm with a total of 9 prototype sites with a fully developed infrastructure and a total capacity of approximately 35 MW. This test park is rented to manufacturers to test their prototypes and obtain type certificates.

About Ventolines Financial Advisory

For Ventolines this is the second sales transaction in a short period of time. In 2019 Ventolines Financial Advisory successfully assisted a collective of local initiators in the sale of 100% of the shares in project Kroningswind to TDP/TINC, [a listed investment company]. Ventolines Financial Advisory consists of all-round finance professionals who can be deployed on a wide range of financial issues. With our expertise we can contribute in every phase of every project. We focus on project finance, M&A, contract negotiation and participation. Because we work closely with lawyers, engineers, technicians and business professionals within Ventolines, we can always provide the most appropriate solution for sustainable energy projects.

For more information, please contact Casper Sparreboom, manager Financial Advisory (caspersparreboom@ventolines.nl).