The aream Group has launched a European investment fund in the renewable energy sector with an integrated investment strategy: The Clean Energy Future Fund II (CEFF II) pursues an investment strategy that combines renewable electricity generation with storage solutions in order to improve the utilisation of grid connections, which are in short supply on the market. At the same time, greater emphasis is placed on electricity marketing. “With this hybrid approach, we are leveraging the changes and increased volatility in the European electricity markets for the benefit of our investors”, says Markus W. Voigt, Executive Chairman of the aream Group.

CEFF II invests primarily in Europe, with a focus on Germany, building on an existing portfolio of operational plants. At its core is a hybrid approach that specifically supplements existing solar and wind farms with battery storage, thereby transforming them from pure electricity producers into grid service providers and expanding existing generation facilities. “A significant portion of the investments is dedicated to the technical upgrading of existing solar and wind farms through battery storage”, said Voigt. “The aim is to utilise existing grid connections more efficiently in order to optimise revenue streams and thereby create additional value.”

The fund is targeting a capital base of €400 million, a significant portion of which has already been invested. The portfolio structure combines ongoing cash flows from existing assets with growth potential from hybridisation, repowering and new projects. “This is complemented by active electricity marketing, which is more closely aligned with market prices and grid requirements than traditional feed-in models”, says Voigt. “In doing so, we are leveraging our long-standing expertise and aiming to gain a corresponding advantage over funds without a marketing focus.”

The European energy transition is entering a new phase: The expansion of renewable energies is leading to increasing volatility, which is also reflected in negative electricity prices, and to higher demands on flexibility. “At the same time, electricity demand will grow significantly in the coming years due to electrification in industry and e-mobility”, says Voigt. “After several years of slower growth, data centres are also playing an increasingly important role as electricity consumers.”

The integrated infrastructure strategy of the new CEFF II, which is open only to professional investors, is thus specifically geared towards the expected future development of European electricity markets. As a specialist in energy infrastructure, the fund management team considers itself ideally positioned for this and intends to focus consistently on the intelligent integration of the development, generation, storage and marketing of green electricity.