Aquila Group

Power Generation Led by Renewables – 2023 Statistics    💡 Did you know that in 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for the majority of power generation? The European Union witnessed a notable decline in fossil fuel supplies since data collection began. The supply of natural gas reached its lowest level since 1995, with a 7.4% decrease to 12.8 million terajoules. The decline in coal supplies was even more pronounced, with brown and hard coal reaching record lows, while oil and petroleum products saw a modest 1.5% decrease.    The EU experienced significant declines in fossil fuel supplies in 2023, with natural gas dropping to its lowest level since 1995 and coal reaching record lows since data collection began. Specifically, natural gas supply decreased by 7.4%, brown coal by 24.2%, and hard coal by 20.4%, while oil and petroleum products saw a more modest decline of 1.5% compared to 2022.    📈 This resulted in a positive outcome: In 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for 44.7% of the EU's electricity production, generating 1.21 million GWh, a 12.4% increase from 2022. There was a substantial reduction in the generation of electricity from fossil fuels, with a 19.7% decline contributing 32.5% of the total output. In contrast, nuclear energy experienced a slight increase of 1.2%, accounting for 22.8% of the EU's electricity mix.    🌱 Aquila Group is at the forefront of the European energy transition, driven by a commitment to clean energy. Our portfolio includes businesses specialised on asset development , integrated and hybrid renewable energy solutions, and independent power production. Since 2005, our clean energy portfolio has grown to 10.5 GW, with 2 GW scheduled for commercial operation. We have signed 2,700 MW power purchase agreements and have created sustainable jobs, with a current workforce of 250 employees in the clean energy business.    👉🏼  If you are interested in 2023 statistics, see the date published by Eurostat:   https://lnkd.in/gsi4HBMs #AquilaGroup #EU2030 #EnergyTransition

Energy demand is increasing 💡 . According to a study commissioned by Aquila Group and led by PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, we will be consuming 8,000 TWh of electric energy by 2030. However, the overall energy demand is expected to decrease at the same time. Prof. Juergen P. Kropp and Prof. Joachim Schellnhuber discuss future energy needs in the context of sector coupling. ➡ The report says that the European potential for wind and solar alone amounts to around 200,000 TWh/yr. ➡ If competing land uses are considered, the available area drops to less than 10%, but it can still generate about 15,000 TWh of electricity. That’s equivalent to the European energy demand in 2021. ➡ If solar modules were installed on existing rooftops in Europe around 4,000 TWh could be produced, which is approximately equivalent to the power demand of the EU27 in 2030. Find a summary of the meta-study “European power sovereignty through renewables by 2030” here: https://lnkd.in/e5X9W2WU #EnergyTransition #Renewables #ClimateNeutralEU #Research #AquilaGroup

🌳 Sustainable Forest Management is a practice that helps to increase the abundance of species within a forest and supports the sustainable harvesting of trees, thereby mitigating climate change by reducing the concentration of greenhouse gas emissions which are absorbed by forests and stored in the wood. It focuses on afforestation, planting new forests, reforestation, replanting trees in deforested areas, forest conservation, protecting existing forests–, and improved forest management implementing sustainable forestry practices. For example, US forests alone sequester 866 million cubic metres of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to 16% of the US total carbon emissions.   Timber investments seek to provide investors with two types of returns, economic returns from the environmental stewardship of owning and managing commercial timberlands, but also environmental returns providing essential benefits for a healthy environment, such as:     ➡️ Carbon Sequestration: Trees absorb CO₂ as they grow, storing carbon in their biomass and soil.  ➡️ Biodiversity: Well-managed forests can provide habitats for various species, promoting biodiversity.  ➡️ Soil Health: Forests improve soil quality and prevent erosion.  ➡️ Water Regulation: Forests play a crucial role in regulating the water cycle, ensuring water quality and availability.  ➡️ Climate Resilience: Forests can buffer against climate extremes by regulating local climates.    The environmental returns are critical in fighting climate change and the loss of biodiversity, and in time will be monetised with greater clarity and certainty. Aquila Group made its first direct investment in forestry in 2009. Since entering the market, the company´s direct forest holdings amount to approximately 13,500 ha, with indirect holdings of more than 8,500 ha through a fund of funds portfolio. The largest property in New Zealand, owned by a fund managed directly by Aquila Group was recently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global authority on sustainable forest management. Aquila Group launched the Global Timber Climate Investment Fund (GTCIF) in 2023 to invest in a global portfolio of properties and managed in accordance with Sustainable Forest Management protocols.   #AquilaGroup #forestinvestment #timberlandinvestment #decarbonisation #naturebasedsolutions #naturalcapital #naturalclimatesolutions

📢 Energy sovereignty is already feasible with the technologies we have at hand, explain Prof. Joachim Schellnhuber and Juergen P. Kropp in a discussion about their meta-study on European power sovereignty by renewables.  When it comes to new technologies, we must look to innovate, but politicians should not wait until the optimal solution has been found. We do need to further invest in innovation but at the same time we must utilise the existing technology – it is more than enough to leverage our potential for a greener and more independent Europe that does not rely on energy imports.   ➡ Find a summary of the study, commissioned by Aquila Group and led by the PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research here: https://lnkd.in/e5X9W2WU #EnergyTransition #Renewables #EU2030 #ClimateNeutralEU #Research #AquilaGroup 

💡The European Green Deal aims to make the EU climate neutral by 2050. This includes measures in the areas of energy, industry, agriculture and mobility. To achieve our goal, it is essential to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030.     ➡️ The 'Fit for 55' package is essential to operationalise the EU's climate goals and ensure that the necessary policy, regulatory and financial mechanisms are in place to transition to a sustainable and climate neutral future. Moreover, the success of the carbon neutral initiative depends on companies driving innovative solutions. We at Aquila Group are proactively seeking solutions for a sustainable future and are committed to avoid 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2-eq by 2035 over the lifetime of our portfolio.     🙏🏼 We are proud to be leading the way to carbon neutrality through smart investments, innovation and the build-out of clean energy and green infrastructure.    #EuropeanGreenDeal #FitFor55 #ClimateProtection #Sustainability #AquilaGroup 

Aquila Group is proud to share that our data centre business AQ Compute - Data Centers has started construction works on its second data centre complex, located in Barcelona.  After the first site near Oslo commenced commercial operations in February 2024, the company is further expanding its presence in Europe. The new facility is designed as a campus with independent buildings that are powered by renewable energy and combine 60 MW capacity.   We are convinced that data centres need to be as sustainable as possible, powered by clean energies, while providing computing power for the Cloud and energy-intensive AI applications.   Find out more in AQ Compute's press release: https://lnkd.in/ea-5x_xe   #AquilaGroup #AQCompute #datacenters

⚡ Europe can become the first power sovereign continent by 2030.  The meta-study “European Power Sovereignty Through Renewables by 2030” led by researchers from the PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and commissioned by Aquila Group, has found that European power sovereignty is possible until 2030. While power sovereignty would be possible by 2030, preliminary research suggests that independence for the entire energy sector (including sectors such as heating, mobility, etc.) could be achieved by 2040 if appropriate targets are set. Against this background, Prof. Schellnhuber is calling for a swift transition with Europe as a positive example for other continents. Find a summary of the meta-study here: https://lnkd.in/e5X9W2WU #EnergyTransition #Renewables #EU2030 #ClimateNeutralEU #Research #AquilaGroup 

🌍 Advancing the future of clean energy with Battery Storage  As the demand for sustainable energy solutions grows, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) play a crucial role in balancing grids and optimising renewable energy production. Aquila Group is proudly supporting the energy transition through its subsidiaries Aquila Clean Energy EMEA and Aquila Clean Energy APAC. The integration of renewables into the grid requires storage capacities to balance fluctuating energy production and ensure grid stability. With over 4 GW capacity of BESS development projects across our European IPP alone, we are committed to enhancing the build-out of clean energies while ensuring a stable, green energy supply.  We have summarised our market insights on the topic of battery energy storage systems in a white paper: https://lnkd.in/dR9Mcw43 #RenewableEnergy #BESS #SustainableInvesting #GridStability #AquilaGroup 

Our Founder and CEO, Roman Rosslenbroich, discusses the path to realigning with the Paris climate goals, highlighting the technologies and innovations that can facilitate this progress in his article featured in Börsen-Zeitung. Find out more about our journey towards a sustainable future in the full article: https://lnkd.in/dbMf4rab #ClimateAction #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Innovation #AquilaGroup 

🏃♀️ Speeding Up the Energy Transition: @JP Morgan Run in Frankfurt! Congratulations to the 15 colleagues who participated in the JP Morgan Run in Frankfurt! Aquila Group has been taking part in the world's largest corporate run each year, enhancing team spirit and strengthening cohesion.   We are proud of our runners who showcased our commitment to teamwork and embodied our Aquila Group values. Together, we can accelerate towards a brighter, more sustainable future! 🌟  #AquilaGroup #Teamwork #EmployerBranding #EnergyTransition #JPmorganRun