DLA Piper advises on strategic partnership to advance 4.5 GW BESS pipeline in Germany

DLA Piper has advised the shareholders of Hamburg-based Solar215 GmbH, a developer of battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects, in their endeavours to further develop, together with Blue Elephant Energy GmbH (BEE), Solar215‘s BESS existing pipeline totalling 4.5 GW. This transaction included the sale of a majority stake in Solar215 to and conclusion of a long-term joint venture with BEE. Through this strategic partnership, Solar215 will accelerate its growth trajectory by gaining access to BEE’s market expertise, financial capabilities, and extensive industry network. The integration of flexible storage assets also provides a natural hedge against generation intermittency, enhancing the reliability and sustainability of BEE’s Central European portfolio. Solar215’s founding team and senior management will remain actively involved in the company.

Solar215 concentrates on the development of BESS projects and has built a robust, organically sourced BESS pipeline totaling 4.5 GW, with further growth on the horizon, which will now be brought to ready to build status (RtB).

BEE is an independent power producer specializing in renewable energy. It develops, acquires, and operates solar and wind parks in nine countries, with a strategic focus on Western and Central Europe as well as South America. Since its founding in 2016, BEE has built a renewable energy portfolio of 1,730 MW.

“The support from the DLA Piper-Team around Sebastian Decker proved to be an invaluable asset for the transaction, not only due to their vast experience in M&A deals and the structuring of joint ventures, but also their insights and understanding of the German battery storage and renewables market. Their dedication and commitment are truly unmatched”, said Friederike Rickers and Christian Bernau, co-founders and managing directors of Solar215.

DLA Piper advised the shareholders of Solar215 under the co-lead of partner Sebastian Decker and counsel Sophie von Mandelsloh (both Corporate/M&A, Hamburg). The team also included partners Dr Marie-Theres Rämer (Tax, Frankfurt) and Dr Henriette Norda (Employment, Hamburg), senior associate Robert Fischer-Sonnberg (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg) as well as associates Franziska Golombek (Employment) and Lea Reifers (Corporate/M&A; both Hamburg).