On October 29, 2021, Hanwha Solutions (or “the company”), the mother company of leading total energy solutions provider Hanwha Q CELLS announced that it has closed a deal to acquire 100% of the equity interest of RES Méditerranée SAS, which owns 100% of RES SAS (“RES France”) following the relevant regulatory approvals and notifications.
On August 9, 2021, Hanwha Solutions made public its intention to acquire RES France, having signed a Put Option Agreement, and subsequently signed a Share Purchase Agreement on September 28, 2021 with RES Group.
The acquisition bolsters Hanwha Q CELLS’ renewable energy portfolio in Europe, doubling in a single stroke its clean energy project pipeline on the continent to around 10 GW, and bringing European wind power projects under the company’s ownership for the first time.
Hanwha Q CELLS is the renewable energy business division of Hanwha Solutions, and has been actively expanding its business beyond solar cell and module production to renewable energy downstream project development, and distributed energy retail and supply. As part of its downstream energy business, Hanwha Q CELLS has developed a global project pipeline of approximately 10 GW, with approximately 5 GW of this in Europe. Prior to the acquisition of RES France, Hanwha Q CELLS' European pipeline was mostly concentrated on the Iberian Peninsula.
The acquisition of RES France, one of Europe’s most active and well-respected renewable energy developers, lays the foundation for a rapid expansion of Hanwha Q CELLS’ French renewable energy activity, and is a strong statement of intent from Hanwha Solutions to support the ambitious diversification and growth of its clean energy business expansion.
Justin Lee, CEO of Hanwha Q CELLS speaking on behalf of Hanwha Solutions, said: “We are delighted to have closed this deal to acquire RES France from RES Group. Hanwha Solutions continues to proactively – via its specialist business units – pursue every opportunity to expand its share and influence in renewable energy. In Europe in particular, this acquisition will create an exciting new frontier for clean energy business expansion – from large-scale projects in solar, onshore and offshore wind, and storage, right down to attractive green electricity options available to the average household or small business.”
Jean-François Petit, CEO of RES France, added: “I am really excited about the opportunities that lie ahead with our new shareholder, Hanwha Solutions, allowing us to reinforce our presence in the French market across all of our sectors of activity: onshore and offshore wind, solar, and storage. The French team and the Executive Committee will capitalize on the fine work carried out over the last 20 years to consolidate the on-going growth of the company.”
Hanwha Solution’s objective moving forward is to construct an exciting and innovative new organization – imbued with the values, expertise and ambitions of both Hanwha Q CELLS and RES France – in order to expand on established technology and market leadership in terms of PV solutions, while also developing a forward-thinking energy player of a new generation that is active and influential on the European renewable energy stage.
Hanwha Qcells (Hanwha Solutions Qcells division) is one of the world’s leading clean energy companies, recognized for its established reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance, high-quality solar cells, and modules, a portfolio of intelligent storage systems, and a growing international pipeline of large-scale renewable energy projects. Hanwha Qcells also provides renewable electricity retail services and packages to end customers the world over. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Malaysia, China, and South Korea. Hanwha Qcells strives to offer Completely Clean Energy through the full spectrum of photovoltaic products, storage solutions, renewable electricity contracting, and large-scale solar power plants. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa, and the Middle East, Hanwha Qcells provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental, and residential markets.
For more information, visit: www.qcells.com/us/
Hanwha Solutions aims to deliver sustainable solutions for the planet through smart energy solutions and customer-focused materials. The Company operates its business through five divisions: Qcells, Chemical, Advanced Materials, Galleria and City Development. The Qcells Division offers total energy solutions from photovoltaic module manufacturing, power plant operation to electricity retailing service. The Chemical Division, the first in Korea to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC), manufactures various chemical products and eco-friendly plasticizers. The Advanced Materials Division produces high-tech materials for automotive, photovoltaic and electronic devices. The Galleria Division, an operator of premium department store chain, provides premium fashion and food services. The City Development Division is a leading real estate developer specializing in industrial complexes. With its innovative technologies for sustainable growth, Hanwha Solutions strives to become a global leader in bringing a better future for humanity.
For more information, visit: www.hanwhasolutions.com/en/
RES Group (“RES”) is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company active in onshore and offshore wind, solar, energy storage and transmission and distribution. At the forefront of the industry for nearly 40 years, RES has delivered more than 21GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and supports an operational asset portfolio exceeding 7.5GW worldwide for a large client base.
RES will remain active in France providing Support Services by managing operational renewable energy projects and providing Asset Management and O&M services to a variety of asset owners and managers.
For more information, visit: www.res-group.com/en
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