27.03.2023, 10:00
| Media release
Lausanne – Alpiq is selling its Bulgarian activities (Alpiq Energia Bulgaria, the Vetrocom wind farm and Alpiq Wind Services) to Renalfa Group and is thus pursuing its established course of geographically focussing on its core markets. The sale is subject to the usual closing conditions, in particular to the approval of the competition authorities.
Alpiq has reached an agreement with the Austrian company Renalfa IPP on the sale of the Vetrocom wind farm in Bulgaria. With a capacity of 72.5 megawatts (MW), the wind farm, which is wholly owned by Alpiq, generates yearly an average of 135 gigawatt hours (GWh) of climate-friendly electricity. Renalfa IPP is a joint venture between the French investment fund company RGREEN INVEST and the Vienna-based Renalfa Solarpro Group. The latter is also taking over Alpiq Wind Services, which specialises in the operation and maintenance of wind turbines, as well as Alpiq Energia Bulgaria’s trading business.
Alpiq constructed the Vetrocom wind farm near the town of Kazanlak, 200 kilometres east of Sofia, commissioned the 29 turbines in three stages between 2010 and 2012 and successfully operated the wind farm for more than 10 years. Alpiq Wind Services is a subsidiary of Alpiq, was established in 2017, is based in Bulgaria, and is primarily responsible for the safe and reliable operation and maintenance of the Vetrocom wind farm. Alpiq Energia Bulgaria ensures the optimised marketing of the electricity generated by the wind farm as well as the purchase and sale of balancing energy in connection with Vetrocom and for third-party assets. “Alpiq proudly looks back on more than a decade of successful ownership and operation of one of Bulgaria’s largest wind farms. I am delighted to pass on Vetrocom and the strong local team to Renalfa that will continue and build on this success,” says Lukas Gresnigt, Head of Alpiq’s International business division.
“We are pleased to announce the signing of the deal for Vetrocom wind farm, after winning a competitive auction. Acquisition of Vetrocom is an important step for technology diversification of our fast growing portfolio of generating assets in East Europe,” says Nick Antonov, Director of communications of Renalfa IPP.
Renalfa IPP is one of the leading investors and developers in East Europe with more than 450 MW operational assets or projects in active construction and more than 1 GW projects in late stage development. The company is active in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia.
The sale is subject to the usual closing conditions, in particular to the approval of the competition authorities. The transaction is expected to be closed in the course of 2023. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. All 31 Alpiq employees in Bulgaria continue to work in the Bulgarian renewable energy sector as part of the Renalfa organization.
Wind energy is an important pillar of Alpiq’s business
The sale represents for Alpiq a further step towards a geographically focused energy business in its core markets. In addition to investments in Swiss hydropower, Alpiq is, among other activities, developing new wind energy and photovoltaic projects in Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France and the Nordic countries with a view to enhancing the security of supply and expanding its climate-friendly electricity production.
Find more information about Alpiq on www.alpiq.com