Eiffel Investment Group invests in Poland’s biomethane potential

Eiffel Investment Group is an asset manager with an energy transition programme. Bioenergy Insight finds out more.
Eiffel Investment Group has about €6.6 billion under management as of 30 June last year, including uncalled commitments. Backed by the Impala Group founded by entrepreneur Jacques Veyrat, Eiffel Investment Group cultivates a strong industrial expertise – in particular for the energy transformation sectors.
“Eiffel Investment Group invests for a sustainable world,” said the organisation. “Its investment strategies aim to generate not only a strong financial return but also objective social and environmental benefits. Impact is a performance driver at the core of all our investment strategies.”
The group counts about 100 professionals based in Paris, New York, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Milan and Abu Dhabi. Eiffel finances companies and their assets through four main strategies: private debt, private equity, energy transition infrastructures and listed equities and credit.
Energy transition programme
The company explained that Eiffel has developed a diversified toolbox to finance energy transition infrastructure, with more than 3,000 assets funded since 2017.
“Our offering ranges from flexible project debt solutions aimed at accelerating the buildout of green portfolios, to tailored development equity solutions for infrastructure project developers,” it said.
“In addition, Eiffel has developed a market-leading expertise in low carbon molecule investments with 30 transactions completed to date.
While our investment strategy focuses on renewable natural gas, also known as biomethane, we have also recently completed an investment in the biogenic CO2 space.”
Galia Green Power
The organisation recently announced the launch of Galia Green Power. This is a new pure player in Poland dedicated to green gases, with a focus on biomethane.
“The company was co-founded by Eiffel Gaz Vert – Eiffel’s first fund dedicated to its low-carbon molecule investment strategy – and a team of four very experienced managers to develop, acquire, build and operate best-in class biomethane plants in Poland, with best-in-class environmental and health & safety standards as a top priority,” added Eiffel.
“Marcin Orłowski, Roman Czernicki, Slawomir Szafranski and Grzegorz Jackiewicz will be leading the charge while leveraging Eiffel’s unique expertise in renewable gas investments.”
Galia Green Power ‘s strategy includes the development of greenfield biomethane projects, most often in cooperation with large partners within the agricultural and food industries.
However, Galia Green Power also explores existing biogas opportunities, with the goal to bring operational excellence, increase capacity and upgrade to biomethane.
The Polish connection
Poland is clearly an attractive country for Eiffel Investment Group. Along with other organisations, it plans to invest in a group of biogas plants in the country, via a 24.5% stake in ARA.
The organisation explained that this came about because Eiffel has been supporting ARA and the development of its portfolio of CHP biogas projects since 2021.
“As the portfolio matured and ARA welcomed Suez as a majority shareholder to accelerate its buildout, we decided to continue supporting the venture by becoming co-shareholder.”
Poland is an important country in Europe when it comes to the energy transition, it added.
“It continues to be a target market for our green gas investment strategy because of its high potential and generally favourable regulatory tailwinds. According to the European Biogas Association, Poland is in Europe’s top five countries for biomethane with an identified potential of c. 9 bcm/year by 2040.”
It was also very natural for Eiffel Investment Group to increase its Polish footprint given its track record in supporting the country’s shift to a low-carbon economy, because it opened a representative office in Warsaw in February last year.
“Since 2018, Eiffel has invested more than €500 million in energy transition projects in Poland and Eastern Europe,” Eiffel added.
Indeed, the formation of Galia Green Power is a particular source of pride for Eiffel Investment Group. It has been a perfect illustration of the organisation’s ability to partner with local experts to address a strategic market by leveraging our extensive knowledge of project financing and of the renewable gas sector continued Eiffel.
“It is also a showcase of our investment team’s unique business network, and innovation in transaction structuring.”
As for what is next for the business, within the renewable gas space, Eiffel Investment Group has two strategic objectives for next year.
It plans to continue supporting the growth of its portfolio companies to bring sustainable decarbonisation solutions, and to bring new investment capacities to tackle low carbon molecule production and usage.