Ancala Expands Croatian Biomass Power Portfolio

Ancala has significantly amplified its renewable energy footprint in Croatia through a strategic acquisition, more than doubling the operational capacity of its dedicated biomass platform. The deal, which saw Ancala’s Croatian Biomass Platform acquire three operational biomass facilities from The Sherif Group, a local wood trading entity, elevates the platform's total generation capacity to 25MW. This expansion solidifies Ancala's position as a key player in the region's energy transition.

The newly integrated plants, located in Glina, Karlovac, and Brinje, contribute an additional 15MW to the platform's output. These facilities, operational since 2017, 2020, and 2021 respectively, are strategically positioned between Croatia's highland and central territories. They leverage long-term power purchase agreements and secure biomass supply chains, mirroring the robust contractual frameworks already in place for Ancala's existing Croatian assets. The fuel source for these plants is primarily low-grade forestry biomass sourced from local Croatian suppliers, underscoring a commitment to regional economic integration and sustainable resource management.

Collectively, the expanded platform now comprises five biomass sites across Croatia, generating an estimated 200,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually. This output is sufficient to power over 45,000 homes each year, contributing meaningfully to Croatia's national renewable energy targets. The acquisition aligns with the country's 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan, which aims to source 36.4% of national energy requirements from renewables.

Laurent Sessa, CEO of The Croatian Biomass Platform, expressed enthusiasm for the growth, stating, “This acquisition is a pivotal moment in our mission to establish a premier renewable power producer in Croatia. The Ancala team's expertise was instrumental in navigating and executing this transaction.” He added, “We are eager to collaborate with the plant teams, share best practices, and enhance the platform's efficiency, thereby supporting Croatia's ambitious renewable energy goals.”

Chris Lee-Evans, Director at Ancala, highlighted the strategic advantages of the consolidation. “This transaction not only doubles our renewable energy generation capacity but also unlocks substantial opportunities for operational and commercial synergies across the integrated platform,” Lee-Evans commented. “We are actively working with Laurent and the management team to seamlessly integrate these new assets and are continuously evaluating further bolt-on acquisitions to accelerate our expansion strategy.” The transaction also presented a co-investment opportunity for Ancala's institutional investor base.

This latest deal marks the 24th bolt-on acquisition facilitated by Ancala for its portfolio companies, reinforcing its track record in executing value-enhancing growth strategies within critical infrastructure. The firm has committed over €1 billion to companies focused on energy transition and renewables, demonstrating a sustained dedication to the sector. The integration of these new facilities is expected to be supported by the recent appointment of Tihana Stupnisek as CFO, who brings extensive experience from her previous role as CEO of Euro Cable Group, a prominent Central and Eastern European manufacturer.