Renewable Energy M&A hits a record high of $100bn!

The global deal value surged by 48% y/y to $108bn in 2022; transacted capacity more than doubled to 740 GW. Corporate consolidations in the US and acquisitions of offshore wind assets in Europe were the major contributors to this rise.

Enerdatics has published its annual analysis of renewable energy transactions, globally. To access the full copy of this report, kindly visit enerdatics.com.

In the US, large, integrated power producers and oil majors expanded their presence in the onshore wind, solar, and biofuels segments, fueled by incentives offered under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Biden administration’s waiver of import tariffs on solar panels from certain Southeast Asian countries improved the outlook for the US’s solar sector, contributing to a 309% y/y rise in solar deal value during the year. Meanwhile, clean fuel tax credits and the rising demand to decarbonize domestic heating and power spurred billion-dollar investments in renewable natural gas (RNG) and alcohol fuels assets by bp and Chevron.

In Europe, private equity (PE)-led farm-ins in offshore wind assets, primarily in the UK and Germany accounted for ~40% of the region's transaction value. Ambitious government targets and supportive legislation, such as Germany’s Easter Package, drove deal activity. Further, the EU's plan to offset 3.5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually and efforts to decarbonize fossil fuel-based power and heating are spurring investments in renewable natural gas and energy-from-waste platforms. Shell and KKR led activity in the sector during the year.

APAC accounted for $19bn of transactions during the year, with India emerging as the premier market in the region. Onshore wind M&A activity surged by 69% y/y, as countries in the region overcame supply chain bottlenecks due to proximity to steel and equipment manufacturing hubs. Additionally, continued elevated prices of oil, coal, and LNG drove C&I customers to turn to corporate power purchase agreements, leading to a surge in interest for assets backed by bilateral contracts

LatAm deal value surged by 314% y/y, with Brazil accounting for 84% of the region’s transaction value. A 2021 regulation that allows companies to sign dollar-denominated PPAs incentivized foreign investment in Brazil's renewables sector by reducing forex risk. Meanwhile, Chile recorded $1bn of deals in 2022, however, transmission bottlenecks continue to impact investor appetite in the country.

PS: The above analysis is proprietary to Enerdatics’ energy analytics team, based on the current understanding of the available data. The information is subject to change and should not be taken to constitute professional advice or a recommendation.