Energy Transition

Rooted in KIRKBI’s purpose of building a better future for children, we want to support the transition to sustainable energy sources by reducing the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Our investment approach

At KIRKBI Climate, we aim to make an impact on decarbonisation by building businesses within mature renewable technologies such as solar and wind. We also invest in emerging solutions, focusing on battery technologies, energy storage and power-to-x innovations.

Building on our ambition to drive impact within decarbonisation, we focus on three key areas to drive renewable energy adoption:

Growth Platforms

Building businesses that expand the production and practical use of mature renewable energy technologies.

Technology Developers

Investing in companies developing the next generation of energy and storage technologies.

Capacity Builders

Backing organisations that scale proven technologies to make them commercially viable and widely used.

Examples of our portfolio

Our Energy Transition portfolio consists both of companies with more mature technologies, such as Adapture Renewables Inc., a U.S.-based developer of solar facilities and energy storage, and new technologies that have moved beyond the prototype phase, such as Highview Power, where KIRKBI Climate joined a syndicate investing in building one of the world’s largest long-duration energy storage facilities.

See the full portfolio in our annual report

Case stories from our portfolio

Adapture Renewables Inc. – increasing capacity and building a solid pipeline in North America

Adapture Renewables, Inc. is a utility-scale solar and energy storage project developer, owner and operator, wholly owned by KIRKBI Climate. The company operates more than 30 solar projects across the U.S. and has a growing team of more than 60 full-time employees spread across the U.S. The team possesses comprehensive expertise in development, engineering, procurement and construction management, project finance and asset management.

There is rapid growth in data centres in the U.S., driven by advancements in AI and cloud computing, as well as increasing demand for EV charging infrastructure. This development places significant pressure on the electricity grid. Adapture Renewables’ solar projects will generate renewable energy to help to meet the growing demand for electricity.

Since KIRKBI’s initial investment in Adapture Renewables in 2019, significant steps have been taken to increase operational capacity and build a solid pipeline. At the end of 2024, Adapture Renewables completed its latest project, a 67 MWdc utility-scale solar project in Texas, USA. 

Anupam Bhargava, CEO of KIRKBI Climate says:

"Adapture Renewables is a vital part of KIRKBI Climate’s activities aimed at addressing global climate issues."

Facts:

  • Since KIRKBI A/S invested in the company in 2019, Adapture has made strong progress — expanding from 87 MW of operational solar PV to 364 MW in 2024.
  • This facility is expected to deliver approximately 120 GWh of renewable electricity annually, enough to power the equivalent of 12,500 U.S. homes.
  • The latest solar project adds to Adapture Renewables’ growing portfolio, which now comprises over 344 MWdc of renewable energy in operation across the U.S.
  • In addition, 441 MWdc of solar PV is under construction and expected to be operational by 2026, more than doubling the company’s current capacity.
  • Adapture Renewables’ development pipeline has now grown to over 4 GW.

Adapture Renewables Inc. – increasing capacity and building a solid pipeline in North America

Adapture Renewables, Inc. is a utility-scale solar and energy storage project developer, owner and operator, wholly owned by KIRKBI Climate. The company operates more than 30 solar projects across the U.S. and has a growing team of more than 60 full-time employees spread across the U.S. The team possesses comprehensive expertise in development, engineering, procurement and construction management, project finance and asset management.

There is rapid growth in data centres in the U.S., driven by advancements in AI and cloud computing, as well as increasing demand for EV charging infrastructure. This development places significant pressure on the electricity grid. Adapture Renewables’ solar projects will generate renewable energy to help to meet the growing demand for electricity.

Since KIRKBI’s initial investment in Adapture Renewables in 2019, significant steps have been taken to increase operational capacity and build a solid pipeline. At the end of 2024, Adapture Renewables completed its latest project, a 67 MWdc utility-scale solar project in Texas, USA. 

Anupam Bhargava, CEO of KIRKBI Climate says:

"Adapture Renewables is a vital part of KIRKBI Climate’s activities aimed at addressing global climate issues."

Facts:

  • Since KIRKBI A/S invested in the company in 2019, Adapture has made strong progress — expanding from 87 MW of operational solar PV to 364 MW in 2024.
  • This facility is expected to deliver approximately 120 GWh of renewable electricity annually, enough to power the equivalent of 12,500 U.S. homes.
  • The latest solar project adds to Adapture Renewables’ growing portfolio, which now comprises over 344 MWdc of renewable energy in operation across the U.S.
  • In addition, 441 MWdc of solar PV is under construction and expected to be operational by 2026, more than doubling the company’s current capacity.
  • Adapture Renewables’ development pipeline has now grown to over 4 GW.

Highview Power – reshaping renewables

Over the past 17 years, Highview Power has been advancing its proprietary liquid air energy storage (LAES) technology to help overcome the intermittency challenges of renewable energy sources, ensuring reliability even when there is no wind or sun.

Today, Highview Power’s LAES technology enables the storage of renewable energy for durations up to several weeks - suitable for deployment at scale across key grid locations. In addition, its technology will provide stability services to the National Grid, paving the way for the long-term replacement of fossil fuel -based power plants for system support.

In June 2024, Highview Power secured a GBP 300 million syndicate investment, including participation from KIRKBI Climate, to fund the construction of one of the world’s largest long duration energy storage facilities – and the UK’s first LAES commercial-scale in Carrington, Manchester.

Once operational in 2026, the facility will have a storage capacity of 300 MWh and an output power of 50 MW per hour for six hours, enough to serve the needs of 480,000 UK homes. This marks a significant step forward for the UK in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, stabilising energy costs, and bolstering grid reliance – critical enablers for achieving the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

Highview Power – reshaping renewables

Over the past 17 years, Highview Power has been advancing its proprietary liquid air energy storage (LAES) technology to help overcome the intermittency challenges of renewable energy sources, ensuring reliability even when there is no wind or sun.

Today, Highview Power’s LAES technology enables the storage of renewable energy for durations up to several weeks - suitable for deployment at scale across key grid locations. In addition, its technology will provide stability services to the National Grid, paving the way for the long-term replacement of fossil fuel -based power plants for system support.

In June 2024, Highview Power secured a GBP 300 million syndicate investment, including participation from KIRKBI Climate, to fund the construction of one of the world’s largest long duration energy storage facilities – and the UK’s first LAES commercial-scale in Carrington, Manchester.

Once operational in 2026, the facility will have a storage capacity of 300 MWh and an output power of 50 MW per hour for six hours, enough to serve the needs of 480,000 UK homes. This marks a significant step forward for the UK in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, stabilising energy costs, and bolstering grid reliance – critical enablers for achieving the UK’s net-zero ambitions.