Natixis Investment Managers affiliate Mirova and RIVE Private Investment have sold six operating onshore wind farms in northern France totalling almost 106MW to Swiss-based energy and infrastructure investor BKW.
The wind farms were constructed under the ownership of Mirova and RIVE Private Investment and entered in operation between September 2018 and August 2021.
BKW has increased its 700MW of renewable energy facilities portfolio by 15% with the acquisition.
The projects produce about 250 gigawatt-hours of electricity to the grid each year.
The assets, split across two portfolios, were sold by Mirova via its funds Mirova Eurofideme 3 and Mirova Eurofideme 4.
Mirova Energy deputy head of transition infrastructure funds Celine Lauverjat said: “After the sale of our Croatian wind portfolio that occurred in December 2021, the sale of this large wind portfolio in the north of France, acquired on a greenfield basis, is a key milestone for our fund Mirova-Eurofideme 3.
“We are proud to have built and operated more than 100MW renewable capacities that will now continue for years, under the care of BKW, to produce green electricity and participate to the achievement of the French energy transition targets.”
RIVE Private Investment partner Pierre du Passage said: “We are delighted to have supported the construction of first grade renewable assets in the Somme region.
“In partnership with Mirova, our involvement has contributed to support achievement of climate change targets and boosted the local economies, consistent with RIVE Private Investment’s sustainability convictions.
“This project successfully demonstrates our strategy of actively managing high quality sustainable infrastructure assets and delivering superior returns to our investors.”
BKW Wind & Solar business division head Margarita Aleksieva said: “With the purchase of six wind farms in the Somme region of northern France, BKW has taken a major step toward achieving its aims through targeted impact investments in the attractive area of wind power.
“The acquisition will enable synergies with current BKW activities in the area of wind energy in France.
“Following the acquisition, it will own a portfolio of 11 wind farms with around 170MW of installed capacity in France.”