12 June 2023
Mission Cleantech – how 1KOMMA5° and Aerones want to accelerate the energy transition
Two start-ups, two trailblazing business ideas. 1KOMMA5° is building a Europe-wide one-stop shop for decentralized energy systems and also provides the smart energy manager to go with it. Aerones revolutionizes the maintenance and inspection of wind turbines - thanks to robotic support, these processes become significantly cheaper, faster and safer for operators. What connects both companies with Haniel and the investment criteria of our Growth Capital team? The common "Mission Cleantech", that is, the technological contribution to greater ecological sustainability.
At lofty heights: robot service for wind turbines
15 million kWh of electricity per year on average – that's how much a modern wind turbine can generate under good conditions. This is enough to supply around 4,000 households. The prerequisite is a trouble-free, well-maintained plant – and this is precisely where Aerones plays to its strengths. With robot-assisted solutions, the Latvian start-up simplifies previously complex and expensive service processes, whether inspection, maintenance or repair. Instead of going to lofty heights, technicians control the work from the ground; the robot for example then takes over the coating of a rotor blade. Aerones already serves customers representing 50 percent of the world's wind energy capacity. With the necessary expansion of renewable energies, the market continues to promise strong growth.
One-stop shop for solar systems, heat pumps, wallboxes & Co.
The name of Hamburg-based start-up 1KOMMA5° says it all. The team around co-founder and CEO Philipp Schröder helps private households and SMEs switch to environmentally friendly energy technology and thus wants to contribute to achieving the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement. To do so, 1K5° invests in a Europe-wide network of specialist electronics companies and creates a one-stop shop for sales, installation and services related to solar, electricity storage, heat pumps and charging infrastructure. The latest innovation called "Heartbeat" is an IoT energy manager that not only links and perfectly coordinates the individual components, but also provides access to the electricity market.
Growth capital for start-up and fund investments
In addition to its focus on established companies, Haniel specifically targets start-ups such as 1KOMMA5° and Aerones to support innovative cleantech business models. In 2019, the team led by Philipp Göhre, Partner Growth Capital, entered the venture capital and start-up world. The portfolio now includes eight direct investments and more than 20 fund investments. The target profile centers on cleantech companies that on their growth path contribute to the fight against climate change.
