BKW acquires majority stake in HelveticWind
With its majority stake in HelveticWind, BKW is strengthening its renewable energy portfolio and taking an important step towards CO2 neutrality by 2040.
BKW has increased its stake in the HelveticWind cooperation to 60 per cent. The remaining 40 per cent will remain with Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ). This strategic decision, which was signed on 5 July 2024, marks a significant realignment of the cooperation between the energy supply companies. Previously, BKW held 29 per cent and EKZ 20.2 per cent of the shares in HelveticWind.
Successful cooperation in Germany and Italy
HelveticWind operates a total of six wind farms, four of them in Germany with an installed capacity of 67 megawatts (MW) and two in Italy with 52 MW. BKW, which is already active as a service provider for the plants, has extensive expertise in the maintenance and optimisation of these wind farms. With the acquisition of the majority stake, BKW can further expand its existing portfolio of renewable energy generation plants.
Future-oriented planning and CO2 neutrality by 2040
Margarita Aleksieva, Head of Wind & Solar at BKW, is enthusiastic about the majority acquisition: “We want to help shape the energy transition in the coming decades and be CO2-neutral in the energy business by 2040. In this context, we are also examining the repowering potential of the six wind farms. Our aim is to optimise the existing sites in the future and increase our energy yield thanks to the latest technology.”
Thanks to long-standing partners and outlook
BKW would like to thank its departing partners Energie Wasser Bern, Genossenschaft Elektra Baselland and SN Erneuerbare Energie for their many years of collaboration. The reorganisation of the cooperation will enable BKW and EKZ to continue their partnership successfully and drive the energy transition forward together.
History and objectives of the HelveticWind cooperation
The HelveticWind cooperation was founded in March 2010 by Energie Wasser Bern and BKW. The original aim was to realise a wind power portfolio with an installed capacity of over 100 MW, which has since been exceeded. The German wind farms include Gross Welle, Lüdersdorf-Parstein, Sendenhorst and Wulkow, while the Ventisei and Eolo wind farms in Italy are part of the portfolio.
With its majority stake in HelveticWind, BKW is strengthening its position in the field of renewable energies and taking an important step towards a sustainable energy future.