Hanwha Solutions, the mother company of leading total energy solutions provider Q CELLS, today 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 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.
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, 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, 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 Q CELLS’ French renewable energy activity, and is a strong statement of intent from HSC to support the ambitious diversification and growth of its clean energy business expansion.
Justin Lee, CEO of 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, on-shore and off-shore 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, HSC, 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 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.
