NorSun, the leading non-Asian producer of monocrystalline wafers for ultra-high efficiency solar cells, has closed a NOK 230 million equity round to double the company’s production capacity, introduce new technologies, and significantly reduce unit costs.
The round was led by Nysnø Climate Investments AS and ABN AMRO’s Energy Transition Fund, investing in total NOK 160 million with the remainder coming from existing shareholders. The equity round is accompanied by an additional NOK 285 million in loans and grants from Enova and Innovation Norway, bringing the total capital to NOK 515 million.
“In a fast growing market for monocrystalline wafers, NorSun has developed plans to increase capacity and introduce new production technologies.”
- In a fast growing market for monocrystalline wafers, NorSun has developed plans to increase capacity and introduce new production technologies. We are very pleased to see that both new investors, Nysnø and ABN AMRO, as well as existing shareholders have found these plans attractive. In addition, Enova and Innovation Norway are contributing substantial loans which have been important to secure the total financing for this project, said John Andersen, Jr., Chairman of the Board, NorSun.
NorSun has been producing n-type monocrystalline wafers for high-efficiency solar cells for more than a decade at the 450 MW capacity production facility in Årdal, Norway. Monocrystalline wafers are rapidly becoming the new standard in the solar industry. To maintain and grow its market share, NorSun will now more than double its annual production to 1.000 MW per year.
- We are excited to have secured financing for our expansion plans, said Svenn Ivar Fure, CEO, NorSun. Our existing production capacity has been sold out for some time and increased production capacity will be welcomed by our customers. New and substantially upgraded production technology will also enable us to reduce unit costs and remain competitive, Mr. Fure, said.
After the share capital increase, Nysnø and ABN AMRO will be among NorSun’s largest shareholders next to NorSun’s existing shareholders Scatec AS and Arendal Fossekampani ASA, who are also contributing in the capital increase.
Nysnø, the sovereign climate investment company, invests in technologies that provide profitable and smart solutions to the challenges of climate change.
- The solar industry will continue to experience strong growth as a key driver to decarbonizing global energy supply. NorSun has a unique competitive position in this market by enabling ultra-high efficiency solar cells with an inherently low carbon footprint. This is made possible by over a decade of technological improvements and a state-of-the-art production facility in Årdal powered by low cost renewable hydropower. We are very excited by the future prospects of NorSun and to invest alongside strong existing and new investors, says Eivind Egeland Olsen, Investment Director in Nysnø.
The ABN AMRO Energy Transition Fund manages a EUR 200 million private equity fund aimed at investing in companies and projects in the energy transition sectors. The fund typically makes equity capital investments in the range of EUR 10 million to 25 million and is geographically focused on West Europe.
- Providing growth capital to NorSun to expand itscapacity perfectly fits our strategy to support sustainable businesses withstrong management teams in realizing their ambitions, said Frederik Deutman,Managing Director of the ABN AMRO Energy Transition Fund.
SpareBank 1 Markets AS acted as sole financial advisor in the private placement. Advokatfirmaet Haavind acted as legal advisor for the company in connection with the private placement. KPMG acted as financial due diligence provider.
Enova will support NorSun with a loan for demonstration of new energy and climate technology solutions, the first of its kind awarded under this scheme. Innovation Norway has provided loans and grants for upgrades of the existing technology platform.
- The transition to the low emission society requires front-runners that invest in highly innovative energy- and climate technologies, which are both environmentally friendly and financially sustainable. Enova’s loan scheme for demonstration of new energy and climate technology solutions was designed to mitigate technological risk in demonstration projects, thus reducing the downside risk of first-of-a-kind investments in such technologies, while allowing the company to retain the upside risk, said Nils Kristian Nakstad, CEO of Enova.
- Innovation Norway has been a partner of NorSun since the very beginning. We are happy to see the results of this long-term cooperation and commitment. We hope our support will contribute to secure NorSun’s role as a leading international player in the field of future oriented renewable energy, says special advisor Jan Gurvin in Innovation Norway.
NorSun is already in the process of qualifying new technologies and equipment that will be included in the expansion project. The expansion will take place in connection with the existing production facilities in Årdal with production ramp-up through 2020.
