ZE Energy has secured funding to expand its hybrid solar and battery storage projects across Europe, enhancing stability and sustainability in renewable energy.
ZE Energy, a Paris-based renewable energy leader focused on hybrid solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), has closed a €54M funding round led by Amundi Transition Énergétique, bringing additional investment from Demeter’s Climate Infrastructure Fund and longstanding partner Sorégies. This capital boost will fuel ZE Energy’s mission to provide stable, sustainable energy solutions for continental Europe, with plans to expand its solar and battery storage capacity across the region.
Founded in 2019, ZE Energy has established a unique hybrid power model that pairs photovoltaic (PV) production with advanced storage technology. This solution mitigates the market’s frequent solar price fluctuations by storing surplus energy, providing a steady supply when demand is high. The company currently boasts a project pipeline of over 1 GW in solar PV and 300 MW of battery capacity, with ambitions to scale up to 900 MW of solar and 600 MWh of storage by 2026.
Aiming for energy stability through solar and battery storage innovation
ZE Energy’s model addresses a persistent challenge for renewable energy – price volatility. The hybrid solar and battery storage system allows the company to offer reliable green power, even in times of solar overproduction, a key advantage as renewables face market fluctuations.
“In a context of increasing volatility in solar energy prices, the model advocated by ZE Energy stands out as an efficient solution, serving a well-managed energy transition,” said Mathieu Lassagne, Founder of ZE Energy. “In the first half of 2024, solar energy prices became increasingly negative due to overproduction during certain hours. The ability to store this energy and thus avoid price volatility is the optimal solution for both producers and consumers.”
Expanding Europe’s renewable footprint with hybrid solar and battery storage
With its recent funding, ZE Energy is poised to increase its operational footprint across Europe, targeting key markets with a pipeline of hybrid projects. By the end of 2026, ZE Energy aims to reach a capacity of 900 MW in solar PV and 600 MWh in energy storage, a significant leap for sustainable energy in the region.
Amundi Transition Énergétique led the investment round, seeing ZE Energy’s hybrid model as a perfect alignment with its sustainable infrastructure objectives. “We are very optimistic about the development of infrastructure solutions combining solar energy production and storage (BESS), which play a key role in decarbonising the electricity system,” explained Matthieu Poisson, CEO of Amundi Transition Énergétique. “We are delighted to partner with the founders and existing shareholders as well as the ZE Energy management team, a team that has proven its worth by what the company has achieved since its creation and its potential. We look forward to supporting them in this growth and European expansion plan.”
Demeter’s Climate Infrastructure Fund, a known backer of energy transition initiatives, also contributed to the round. “The company, with its hybrid assets, brings an energy efficiency approach perfectly aligned with the vision and investment thesis of the Climate Infrastructure Fund,” noted Philippe Detours, Managing Partner at Demeter. “This fundraising will support ZE Energy’s growth in France and internationally.”
Strengthening partnerships for the green transition
Sorégies, an energy provider in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and a longtime partner of ZE Energy, reaffirmed its support by participating in this round. Frédéric Bouvier, Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe Sorégies, highlighted the importance of their collaboration. “Flexibility is a major challenge for the energy transition. For this reason, we are continuing our collaboration, capitalising on the complementarity of our approaches and the success of our joint achievements,” he said. “Our partnership leads to the development of efficient solutions that offer our customers green, local, controllable, and reasonably priced electricity. Together, we continue our goal of making the energy transition accessible to all.”
Next steps in ZE Energy’s renewable journey
With fresh funding, ZE Energy is poised to continue its growth trajectory, bringing more hybrid solar and storage solutions to Europe’s energy landscape. This innovative model is well-positioned to support a sustainable, resilient power supply, benefiting both energy producers and end-users as Europe moves toward a low-carbon future.
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