Mordechai Gal: renewable energy M&A specialist? According to IRENA’s annual review of renewable energy and jobs, global renewable energy employment reached a high of 12 million in 2020. They also found that more jobs will be created by the energy transition than lost. In fact, the renewable energy sector is expected to employ 43 million by 2050. To encourage this shift, and simultaneously ensure that emissions reductions targets are achieved, money is being injected into the industry. In fact, investment in clean energy and energy efficiency creates up to three jobs for each job lost in the fossil fuel sector – a favorable ratio for countries still grappling with job losses from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The world needs more green energy to replace fossil fuels as an energy source. And strong demand tends to make a good case for energy investments such as wind and solar powers. However, there are other factors that determine whether backing renewables with your money is the right decision for you. These include the health of the global economy, local regulation and policy. When the global economy is strong, demand for power soars and its price grows. This means that the value of companies producing power begins to rise. On top of increased appreciation of sustainability and higher green investment, the pandemic also accelerated the shift to automated, digitized processes. This has laid the ideal foundation for jobs in renewable energy technology.

Mordecai Gal, operations director at AccessHeat Inc, said : This year’s record renewable electricity additions of 290 gigawatts is yet another sign that a new global energy economy is emerging. The high commodity and energy prices we are seeing today pose new challenges for the renewable industry, but elevated fossil fuel prices also make renewables even more competitive. Solar energy is the energy that comes from the sun can be harvested by various technologies including solar panels, either on individual homes or in large solar farms. Solar energy now accounts for about 4% of the UK’s electricity.

Wind power system is catching up to the solar power as the most utilized renewable energy source. According to Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), wind power is the most newly installed renewable energy systems in 2015, especially for industrial usage. Hydroelectric technology is the oldest renewable energy utilized by men. The very first hydroelectric power plant was built in 1878 and is still one of the most popular ways to generate electricity in most countries. According to National Geographic, hydropower generates almost 20% of today’s electricity all around the globe and is still the cheapest renewable energy resource. Geothermal technology produces electricity and power by utilizing the (almost) unlimited heat generated by the earth’s core. According to Union of Concerned Scientists, geothermal is responsible for more than 11,000 MegaWatts of electricity all around the world in 2013 and has increased ever since. 30% of that number is generated in the U.S. alone. By 2019, geothermal energy is also expected to be cheaper than coals and natural gas, with expected cost around 5 cents per kiloWatt hour.

We are seeing a wide range of transactions in the renewable energy consolidation market, prompted by a broad spectrum of drivers. Although recent changes in the laws and regulations governing filings with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) have increased the complexity and timelines for some cross-border renewable energy transactions, non-US investors continue to show keen interest in US renewable assets. The number and variety of prospective purchasers has heightened competition for good renewable energy projects, with the result that buyers are increasingly willing to acquire projects during development and construction, and thereby to prioritise the project’s prospects over the risks presented by the development process. Renewable energy M&A transactions are increasingly involving the acquisition of portfolios of projects rather than individual projects, and the acquisition of renewable energy companies as ongoing businesses, so that the buyer can obtain the benefit of the development and operating personnel of the target.

Companies are still struggling to generate breakeven cash flow, which resulted in a brief wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the U.S. upstream space. Most of the M&A has been completed with low premiums and financed through all-stock transactions. Exploration and production (E&P) and oilfield service companies continue to see a wave of defaults and distressed exchanges due to lack of capital market access. For many drillers and oilfield services companies, many market and financial risks have already materialized in the past two oil price downturns. Even as the sector continues to restructure operationally and financially, with some exits and mergers, it remains beholden to expectations for oil prices and producers spending in 2021 and the long term.

With increased growth and demand comes new ventures and opportunities for consolidations. Investors like us look for entry points into these growing marketplaces. Larger firms are seeing the benefit of acquiring small renewable energy businesses to expand on their unique findings and processes. Improvements such as stronger balance sheets, improved employee retention, and more resources to support advancement are readily available. An effective strategy that puts your business at the forefront of this rapid growth is essential. Being able to take action through preparation when the time comes to sell your business is a crucial component of a successful transaction. Access-Heat.com will invest in and guide you to the most favorable outcome possible with your renewable energy business consolidation.