Dear Reader,
We are looking ahead with optimism. The energy transition is in full swing. Politics, technology, and society are ready for a sustainable future. The Ranft Group installed over 20 MWp of PV capacity in 2023 and is starting the new year with a project pipeline of over 320 MWp. Exactly 15 years ago, the Ranft Group completed its first PV project, “Solarpark Pocking II”—a pioneering project at the time—and has been continuously expanding its renewable energy sector ever since. Since then, we have made all interest and principal payments in accordance with our contracts. Through our projects, we are supporting the energy transition and thereby creating added value for society. We would like to thank you for the trust you have placed in us and wish you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season and a happy and successful new year.
The Ranft Group develops and implements projects in the photovoltaic sector in Germany, Italy, and Austria, as well as hydropower projects in Italy. In this Ranft Report, we provide you with updates on our progress with these projects and cover interesting topics related to renewable energy.
Are you already investing with us? If so, we hope you’ll continue to support us. If you’re not yet part of our investor community, we look forward to welcoming you in the future. Let’s work together consistently over the coming years to create meaningful and value-adding opportunities.
Sincerely, Michael Ranft, Andrea Ranft, and Rainer Zepke
DEVELOPMENTS IN SOLAR PACKAGE I
The solar package proposed by the federal government includes a series of measures to promote and expand solar energy in our country. The legislative package will streamline the processes involved in setting up PV projects and, above all, create more opportunities for rooftop and ground-mounted systems. As a company, we view the specified expansion targets of 13 GWp for 2024 and 18 GWp for 2025 as particularly positive. In addition, the plan is to achieve half of this expansion through ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. Furthermore, the expansion of sustainable ground-mounted installations is to be strengthened—specifically in the area of agri-PV projects (a combination of photovoltaics and agriculture) as well as on already sealed surfaces such as large parking lots and similar areas—in order to create dual use for the available land.
The hearing on “Solar Package 1” took place on November 15, 2023, before a distinguished panel and provided experts from various fields with the opportunity to share their assessments and recommendations regarding this groundbreaking draft legislation. All aspects of the Solar Package were analyzed—ranging from financial incentives for investments in photovoltaic systems to the streamlining of bureaucratic hurdles for private households and, in particular, companies that wish to power their production facilities with renewable energy. Significant attention was also given to the need to optimize and ensure the economic viability of grid integration measures for solar energy, as well as to the further development and expansion of storage technologies.
Land use—and thus the availability of suitable buildable land—remains a topic of discussion. Further potential solutions can be found here. For example, municipalities that support the development of a solar farm within their boundaries are creating lists of criteria for the construction of ground-mounted solar farms, which also provide us with a useful roadmap for project planning and implementation. The clarity of the established conditions accelerates the identification of suitable sites in a manner consistent with the municipalities’ interests. As a company, we, too, encounter reservations and concerns regarding the use of such sites in municipalities, and in many projects we work together with all stakeholders to develop targeted solutions that are acceptable and feasible for all parties and create added value.
The expansion of transmission grids and local power grids is also to be accelerated through further investment support. Despite this, these measures are still falling behind schedule. As a company, we are adapting our business model to the current circumstances and have already begun planning our first in-house substation to independently create connection capacity for our own and other photovoltaic systems. Combined with integrated storage, this infrastructure will support the energy transition and open up new opportunities for our company.
The expert panel also sees a need for further improvements to “Solar Package 1” in order to achieve the goals for expanding renewable energy. We view the planned adjustments positively and look forward to new projects that will contribute to a more sustainable future.
2023 ELECTRICITY RATE PACKAGE
The new electricity pricing package in Germany provides businesses with greater cost transparency and planning certainty, as it offers long-term contracts and clearly structured prices. This enables companies to budget their energy expenses more accurately and strengthens their financial stability. Furthermore, the package promotes the integration of renewable energy, which helps companies implement sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact. By promoting energy efficiency measures, companies can also achieve long-term cost savings and increase their competitiveness. A positive aspect for our company is that the electricity pricing package indirectly promotes demand for electricity from renewable sources.
Solar Projects in Germany
Oranienbaum Expansion
The Ranft Group had already completed the repowering work on the existing Oranienbaum plant (8 MWp) in July. In October, we began construction on an additional 5 MWp. Once completed, the ground-mounted project will have a total capacity of 13 MWp and will supply 3,000 four-person households in Germany with green electricity.
New Construction in Obergessertshausen
A new 5 MWp ground-mounted solar power plant is being built in Obergessertshausen, Bavaria. The building permit was granted in October, and construction began shortly thereafter. In addition, the solar park is maintained through sheep grazing.
This has several advantages:
- Dual Use of the Space
- Involving Local Shepherds in the Maintenance of the Solar Park
- A presence on site enables continuous monitoring of the solar park and allows for swift action if any irregularities are detected
- Environmentally friendly, gentle maintenance of the areas
- No dust generation or damage to the panels caused by mechanical mowing
Building Permit for Riedenheim
The PV project in Riedenheim is a ground-mounted system with a capacity of approximately 10 MWp. The building permit for the PV system was approved by the municipality in July, and the Würzburg District Office gave its approval for the project in November 2023. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2024.
FIRST PROJECT IN AUSTRIA
The ground-mounted solar plant, with a capacity of approximately 2.8 MWp, is our first project in Austria. In 2023, the Ranft Group Austria team secured the necessary project rights in addition to securing the land, and applied for a building permit in November 2023. Following an initial written hearing, the building permit is expected to be granted in February 2024 after the oral hearing with the State of Burgenland.
NEW CORPORATE BOND “RANFT SOLAR 2024”
The past few years have been marked by the implementation of successful projects and the continuous expansion of our business models. This would not have been possible in this form without your investments and your trust in our activities. We remain committed to transparency toward you and look forward to continuing to offer you attractive returns in the future. Our full order books for 2024 promise continued financial success for us and, consequently, for our valued investors. Accordingly, the Ranft Group will issue a new corporate bond with attractive terms for the first quarter of 2024. You’ll find more details in our upcoming Ranft Report. We look forward to continuing this sustainable and profitable journey together with you.
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