Press & news

Hamburg/Ingolstadt (Germany), 20 February 2024 – The newly founded ace Group (advanced clean energy Group) combines the three industry champions ADLER Smart Solutions, HMB and Charge Construct to form Germany's largest full-service partner for long-term B2B customers for solutions in the field of renewable energies. The merger of the competence trio under the umbrella of the new holding company is the next chapter in the success story of the three companies and the Munich-based growth investor EMERAM.

The Hamburg-based ace Group is becoming the B2B market leader for consulting, planning and implementation of photovoltaic systems, charging infrastructure and battery storage. Major customers include EnBW, Shell, IONITY, Vattenfall and Garbe. At its Hamburg headquarters, the new group of companies bundles overarching areas such as administration, finance and marketing.

Tajo Adler, CEO of the ace Group and founder of ADLER Smart Solutions: "With the ace Group, we are launching the strongest B2B group of companies for complex full-service solutions in the field of renewable energies. With the holding company, we are combining the best of three innovative and successful companies. As a top specialist in the planning and implementation of systems for the generation, storage and charging of solar power, we support the economy with innovative ideas, individual concepts and powerful implementation. Thanks to the enormous demand for clean energy, the ace Group is operating in one of the most promising growth markets of all."

With the acquisition of the Ingolstadt-based project developer Charge Construct GmbH, which specializes in the construction of fast-charging infrastructure, the ace Group has achieved a major milestone: Founded in 2020 by Adrian Zierer and Tim Schwenk, the Ingolstadt-based start-up provides all services along the e-mobility value chain, from site acquisition, planning and project development to construction, installation and operation. Since 2020, Charge Construct has installed more than 1,100 charging points at more than 220 locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Its largest customers include EnBW, IONITY, Citywatt and Numbat. Tim Schwenk will continue to manage the business of Charge Construct under the umbrella of the ace Group, while Adrian Zierer will remain with the ace Group as an advisor.

Tim Schwenk, founder and CEO of Charge Construct: "Charge Construct bundles extensive expertise and know-how in the field of building HPC charging parks within the ace Group. With the ace Group and EMERAM, we have found partners who enable us to continue to operate independently in the market and at the same time support us on our growth path. Together with ADLER Smart Solutions and HMB, we are now even more powerful and cover the entire DACH region for our customers."

It was only in December that Tajo Adler and private equity partner EMERAM, one of the leading independent investment companies for medium-sized companies, acquired the owner-managed HMB GmbH from Lower Saxony. HMB is a pioneer in the development of large solar parks, battery storage, and truck charging infrastructure with capacities exceeding one megawatt-hour.

Matthias Obermeyr, Partner at EMERAM: "With the ace Group, we are implementing our strategy of offering the market the maximum expertise of all companies integrated into the ace Group from a single source under the umbrella of a powerful holding company. For our customers, this means smart full service based on the three pillars of PV systems, charging infrastructure and battery storage. This is the logical next step for the ace Group to develop into one of the largest players in the field of renewable energies in the European market. The addition of the specialist Charge Construct to the ace Group is an important milestone on our path. In addition to its dynamic, organic growth, the ace Group is also aiming for further growth through acquisitions. We are actively screening the market for interested companies to join the group."

More than 250 employees at the three ace Group companies are already making a significant contribution to driving the clean energy transition. The total turnover target for this year is around 150 million euros. With organic and inorganic growth the ace Group targets revenues of EUR 500 million for 2027. The three companies work closely together as a team and are expanding their respective operating business in their existing markets with the aim of achieving significant growth.

Areas of expertise: Full-service systems and repowering

The companies in the ace Group develop and implement smart full-service packages covering all aspects of renewable energy for major customers such as energy companies, logistics centers, residential district developers and petrol station operators. From solar power generation and charging infrastructure to battery storage, the group equips buildings or open spaces with solar systems or multiplies the performance efficiency of existing systems through repowering measures without the need for additional space.

Innovative strategies and investment advice

The ace Group maximizes the profitability of its customers' projects by intelligently combining renewable energies and e-mobility and offers comprehensive support in the implementation and expansion of innovative strategies. The companies in the ace Group also support strategic customers in professional grant applications as well as in the development of investment and financing concepts.