Scatec
Scatec ASA is a Norwegian renewable energy company that develops, builds, owns, and operates solar, wind, hydro power plants, and energy storage solutions, with a focus on emerging and high-growth markets to deliver affordable clean electricity.[1][2] Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Oslo, Scatec has expanded to achieve approximately 3.5 gigawatts of installed capacity across four continents, operating through Power Production and Development & Construction segments that generate and sell electricity from these renewable sources.[3][4][5] Formerly known as Scatec Solar ASA, the company has established itself as a key player in regions like Africa and South America, including being Egypt's largest solar developer with 380 megawatts operational and advancing large-scale projects such as solar-plus-storage initiatives there and photovoltaic plants in Brazil.[6][7][8] Scatec's growth reflects a decade-long commitment to the full lifecycle of renewable projects, from development to long-term operation, amid global shifts toward sustainable energy, though its performance has been influenced by market volatilities in power pricing and project financing.[9][10]History
Founding and early solar focus (2007–2013)
Scatec Solar ASA was founded in 2007 by Alf Bjørseth, a Norwegian serial entrepreneur with prior experience in the solar sector through establishing Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), a leading producer of silicon-based solar materials.[9][11] The company's inception involved the acquisition of Solarcompetence, a German firm specializing in solar project development, which provided an immediate foundation for large-scale rooftop photovoltaic installations primarily in Europe.[12] From its establishment, Scatec Solar operated as a fully integrated independent power producer, handling the full lifecycle of solar projects including development, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC), ownership, and operations & maintenance (O&M).[13][14] Early activities centered on the European market, with expansion into Italy and the Czech Republic in 2008, followed by initial installations in 2009.[12] The firm achieved milestones such as developing Germany's first megawatt-scale solar project and becoming the world's inaugural triple ISO-certified entity for solar development and EPC services.[15] Through 2013, Scatec Solar's strategy prioritized accumulating technical and operational expertise in photovoltaic systems, sustaining a pipeline of commercial and industrial solar installations amid Europe's emerging feed-in tariff regimes.[12][16] This period established the company's reputation for reliable project execution, with a cumulative installation track record building toward over 1 GW by later years, though utility-scale ventures in emerging markets gained traction only post-2013.[14][9]International expansion and project development (2014–2020)
During this period, Scatec Solar, as the company was then known, accelerated its international expansion beyond initial markets in Norway and South Africa, targeting high-irradiation emerging economies in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East to leverage its EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) expertise and develop utility-scale solar projects under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). The strategy emphasized rapid project development from greenfield sites, often in partnership with local utilities or international financiers, amid falling solar panel costs and supportive feed-in tariffs in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab world. By 2014, the company reported a robust pipeline across Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, reflecting a shift toward diversified geographic risk and scalable operations.[16] Key early expansions included entry into Latin America with the Agua Fría solar plant in Honduras, a 60 MW facility constructed and commissioned in 2014, marking Scatec's first major project in Central America and demonstrating its ability to navigate regulatory auctions and grid integration in developing grids.[17] In Africa, construction wrapped on three solar plants totaling 124 MW in South Africa and Rwanda by late 2014, including expansions under South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), which bolstered Scatec's track record in competitive bidding and hybrid financing models involving development banks.[16] These projects, such as the 75 MW Kalkbult and 54 MW Linde facilities in South Africa (part of a 190 MW trio commissioned that year), operated under 20-year PPAs with Eskom, providing stable revenues while highlighting Scatec's focus on operational efficiency in water-scarce environments through dry-cooling technologies.[18] Expansion continued into the Middle East and North Africa, with market entry in Egypt in 2015 leading to 380 MW of operational capacity by the period's end, primarily through Benban Solar Park developments awarded via government tenders emphasizing local content and foreign investment.[6] In Jordan, Scatec built three plants totaling 43 MW in 2016, capitalizing on the country's solar auctions and regional stability to secure PPAs with the national grid operator.[17] Further diversification saw the 35 MW Los Prados plant in Honduras reach grid connection in 2018, expanding Scatec's footprint to 95 MW in the country and underscoring repeated success in the same market through phased development.[17] By 2020, project development had scaled significantly, with awards like a 150 MW portfolio in Pakistan's Sindh province via competitive auctions, and an MoU for a 480 MW solar initiative in Brazil alongside Equinor and Norsk Hydro, signaling entry into South America ahead of full construction.[17] This culminated in a record 10.5 GW renewables pipeline, driven by solar-centric growth in emerging markets, though execution faced challenges like currency volatility and permitting delays in politically unstable regions.[19] Scatec's approach prioritized owning and operating assets post-construction for recurring power production revenues, achieving over 1.4 GW installed globally by 2019 while maintaining a backlog of advanced-stage projects.[14]Acquisition of SN Power and diversification (2021–present)
In January 2021, Scatec completed its acquisition of SN Power, a prominent hydropower developer and independent power producer, for USD 1.1 billion from Norfund, marking a strategic pivot from its solar-centric operations.[20][21] The deal, initially announced in October 2020, integrated SN Power's approximately 1.6 GW of hydropower assets primarily in South America, Africa, and Asia, alongside a development pipeline that included early-stage wind and storage projects.[22][23] This transaction expanded Scatec's operational capacity to 3.3 GW across solar and hydro, while broadening its technological scope and geographical footprint to 14 countries.[20][23] The integration of SN Power facilitated Scatec's diversification by leveraging hydropower's stable, dispatchable output to complement intermittent solar generation, enhancing portfolio resilience in emerging markets.[22] In March 2021, Scatec outlined a NOK 100 billion business plan targeting 15 GW of renewable capacity in operation or under construction by the end of 2025, emphasizing hybrid solutions and multi-technology pipelines exceeding 9.5 GW at the time of acquisition.[24][25] This shift supported entry into wind power, with initial pipeline elements from SN Power evolving into firm commitments, such as the June 2025 signing of a 25-year PPA for a 900 MW onshore wind project in Egypt.[26][27] Further diversification extended to battery energy storage systems (BESS), addressing grid stability for renewables in high-penetration markets.[28] Scatec advanced hybrid solar-plus-storage projects, including a December 2023 agreement for 1 GW solar paired with 200 MWh BESS in Egypt and the Mogobe BESS initiative in South Africa finalized in 2024 under regional procurement programs.[29][30] By mid-2025, the company's backlog incorporated 123 MW/492 MWh of BESS alongside solar additions, reflecting integrated development in focus markets like South Africa and Egypt.[31] Strategic refinements by 2024-2025 involved asset rotation to prioritize high-growth technologies, including the July 2024 agreement—completed in February 2025—to sell African hydropower assets from the SN Power joint venture to TotalEnergies for USD 167 million, valued as of December 31, 2023.[32][28] This divestment aligned with a self-funded growth strategy emphasizing solar, wind, and storage in select geographies such as Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, and the Philippines, while reducing exposure to non-core hydro operations in Africa.[28][33] By Q2 2025, Scatec's portfolio spanned 2.8 GW in operation across these technologies, underscoring sustained diversification amid a 51% revenue increase to NOK 2.3 billion for the quarter.[34][31]Business Model and Operations
Development, construction, and power production segments
Scatec structures its operations primarily through the Development & Construction (D&C) and Power Production (PP) segments, with the Corporate segment handling non-operational functions such as overheads. The D&C segment encompasses project origination, development, and construction activities for renewable energy assets, including solar, hydro, wind, and battery storage facilities, primarily in emerging markets. Development involves securing sites, obtaining permits and grid connections, conducting environmental and social assessments, negotiating long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), and finalizing plant designs to ensure viable business cases. Construction proceeds as a turn-key engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) process, emphasizing cost control, quality assurance, and adherence to health, safety, security, and environmental (HSSE) standards to mitigate execution risks. Revenues in this segment arise from construction margins on projects delivered internally to the PP segment or externally to third parties, as well as from the outright sale of development rights. As of the second quarter of 2025, the D&C segment managed 1,720 MW under construction and held a 3.2 GW backlog, generating revenues of NOK 976 million with an 11% gross margin.[35][31] The PP segment focuses on the ownership, operation, and maintenance of commissioned renewable energy plants, transitioning projects from D&C handover to long-term revenue generation. It oversees asset management to optimize performance under PPA terms, including routine operations, predictive maintenance, and monitoring to maximize output and reliability. Revenue is derived from selling electricity to off-takers via fixed-price, long-term contracts, often spanning 20-25 years, which provide predictable cash flows distributed as dividends to shareholders after debt servicing. This segment integrates technologies such as hybrid solar-plus-storage systems to enhance dispatchability and value in markets with variable grid demands. In the second quarter of 2025, PP operated 4,221 MW of capacity across solar, hydro, and storage assets, producing 940 GWh of power and reporting revenues of NOK 1.312 billion alongside EBITDA of NOK 1.110 billion.[35][31] These segments operate within an integrated independent power producer (IPP) model, where D&C feeds developed and constructed assets into PP for ownership and operation, enabling capital recycling through refinancing and portfolio optimization. This vertical integration reduces interface risks, controls costs, and supports scalability in high-growth emerging markets like Africa and the Middle East, where Scatec targets cost-efficient renewable solutions to meet rising energy demands. The model prioritizes selective project retention in PP based on return thresholds, with excess development rights monetized via D&C to fund pipeline expansion without diluting ownership in core assets.[35]Strategy in emerging markets and technology integration
Scatec's strategy emphasizes development, construction, ownership, and operation of renewable energy assets primarily in emerging markets, where rising electricity demand, supportive green transition policies, and improving regulatory frameworks create opportunities for long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).[1] Core markets include South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, and the Philippines, selected for their potential in solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage deployment, with opportunistic expansion into other regions like Cameroon and Liberia.[1] This approach targets de-risked projects through local partnerships and non-recourse financing, aiming for annual gross equity investments of NOK 750 million by 2027 while optimizing returns via portfolio divestments, such as the 2024 sale of African hydropower stakes to focus on high-growth segments.[1][36] The company's priorities include profitable growth in renewables, with a focus on achieving 1.2 times the cost of equity in returns and gross margins of 10-12% in development and construction phases, alongside leadership in sustainability through responsible supply chains and local value creation.[1] In emerging markets, Scatec prioritizes selective investments in technologies that address intermittency and grid stability, divesting non-core assets to recycle capital into core solar and storage pipelines exceeding 6 GW in operation or under construction across five continents.[1] This market-specific strategy leverages lower land and labor costs in developing regions while mitigating risks through long-term PPAs, which secure predictable revenue streams amid volatile energy prices.[35] Technology integration forms a cornerstone, shifting from standalone solar projects to hybrid configurations that combine solar PV with battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hydropower for dispatchable, firm power output.[1] Solar PV and BESS are prioritized as primary technologies due to their scalability and declining costs, enabling hybrids that provide power from early morning to evening, as demonstrated in projects delivering 150 MW dispatchable capacity year-round.[37] Innovations include floating solar integrated with hydro reservoirs to minimize land use and enhance firm capacity, alongside advanced portfolio-level controls for forecasting and optimization in hybrid systems.[38] Key implementations include the Kenhardt project in South Africa, featuring 540 MW solar PV paired with 225 MW/1,140 MWh BESS for grid stability, and Egypt's Obelisk initiative with 1.1 GW solar and 100 MW/200 MWh BESS under a 25-year PPA.[37][39] In Cameroon, hybrid solar plants expanded to 64.4 MW with 38.2 MWh storage, integrating with existing hydro for reliable supply, while Liberia's 23.75 MW solar facility hybridizes with hydropower to bolster national infrastructure.[40][41] These integrations reduce carbon emissions, lower levelized costs of energy, and support emerging market grids transitioning from fossil fuels, with Scatec's EPC capabilities ensuring cost-efficient execution.[35]Portfolio and Key Projects
Solar and hybrid projects
Scatec has developed a substantial portfolio of solar photovoltaic projects, primarily in emerging markets across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, with capacities exceeding 3 GW operational as of mid-2025.[42] The company's solar initiatives often incorporate hybrid elements, such as battery energy storage systems (BESS), to provide dispatchable power and address grid stability challenges in regions with variable renewable generation.[17] Early efforts included four small-scale plants totaling 20 MW in the Czech Republic, constructed between 2009 and 2010.[17] In South Africa, Scatec operates approximately 730 MW of solar capacity, established since entering the market in 2010, including hybrid configurations like the Kenhardt project with 540 MW solar paired with storage for reliable output.[17] A notable hybrid facility there achieved commercial operation in December 2023, delivering 150 MW of dispatchable power from solar and battery components under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).[37] In July 2025, Scatec secured preferred bidder status for the 846 MW Kroonstad Cluster solar projects under South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.[43] Egypt hosts key assets, including the 380 MW Benban solar plant, part of the world's largest one-site solar development at the time of entry in 2015.[17] Hybrid advancements are evident in the Obelisk project, combining 1.1 GW solar with 100 MW/200 MWh BESS—Egypt's first such integration—with construction commencing on May 5, 2025, following a PPA signed in September 2024 and US$479 million financing closed in June 2025.[7][44][45] Latin American projects include operational facilities in Brazil, such as the 531 MW Mendubim and 162 MW Apodi plants developed in partnership with Equinor, alongside the 142 MW Rio Urucuia under construction with financial close in August 2025.[17][46] In Honduras, operational plants comprise the 60 MW Agua Fria (built 2014) and 35 MW Los Prados (grid-connected 2018).[17] A 130 MW solar project in Colombia's Nariño region advanced with a 15-year PPA signed on September 2, 2025.[47] Other regions feature operational 43 MW across three plants in Jordan (built 2016), 197 MW Quantum Solar Park in Malaysia, and 150 MW Sukkur in Pakistan, with additional 240 MW under construction in Malaysia via partnership with Tenaga Nasional.[17] In Romania, a 190 MW solar portfolio in Dolj and Olt counties secured a 15-year contract for difference in January 2025.[48] Tunisia's 120 MW projects (Sidi Bouzid and Tozeur) reached financial close in August 2024.[49] As of November 2024, Scatec held about 1.6 GW in mature solar and battery projects slated for near-term construction.[10]| Project | Capacity | Location | Type | Status | Key Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obelisk | 1.1 GW solar + 100 MW/200 MWh BESS | Egypt | Hybrid | Under construction | Construction start: May 2025[7] |
| Kenhardt | 540 MW solar + storage | South Africa | Hybrid | Operational | Ongoing since market entry 2010[17] |
| Kroonstad Cluster | 846 MW | South Africa | Solar | Backlog | Awarded: July 2025[43] |
| Mendubim | 531 MW | Brazil | Solar | Operational | Developed with Equinor[17] |
| Benban | 380 MW | Egypt | Solar | Operational | Entered: 2015[17] |
Hydro, wind, and storage initiatives
Scatec's entry into hydropower was facilitated by its 2020 acquisition of SN Power, a developer and independent power producer focused on hydro assets, for an equity value of USD 1.17 billion.[22] This added a portfolio including a 60% stake in the Theun Hinboun Power Company (THPC) in Laos and operational hydro plants in Latin America generating approximately 2,149 GWh annually.[50] However, in alignment with its strategy to focus on solar, storage, and hybrid solutions, Scatec agreed in July 2024 to sell its 51% stake in African hydropower assets—encompassing the 255 MW operating Bujagali plant in Uganda and a development pipeline—to TotalEnergies, with the transaction closing on February 28, 2025, for USD 167 million based on a December 31, 2023, valuation.[28][32] In wind power, Scatec has pursued development in high-resource regions, including a June 2025 signing of a 25-year USD-denominated power purchase agreement (PPA) with Egypt's Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for a 900 MW onshore wind project in Ras Shukeir, noted for superior wind conditions, to be built in two phases.[26] Earlier, in May 2024, Scatec secured land rights for up to 5 GW of wind capacity in Egypt's Sohag region as part of an 8 GW consortium effort with Engie and others.[51] Via SN Power, it entered wind with the 46 MW Totoral project in Chile, featuring 23 turbines and annual output of 109 GWh, marking SN Power's inaugural wind initiative.[52] Scatec divested its 39 MW Dam Nai wind farm in Vietnam in February 2025 to Sustainable Asia Renewable Assets.[53] Battery storage initiatives emphasize integration with solar for hybrid stability and standalone capacity. In South Africa, Scatec's Kenhardt project combines 540 MW solar PV with 225 MW/1,140 MWh storage, spanning 879 hectares, with construction starting July 2022 and grid supply commencing December 2023 using nearly 1 million PV modules.[54] In May 2025, it achieved preferred bidder status for the 123 MW/492 MWh Haru standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) under South Africa's third bid window, part of a 616 MW/2,464 MWh program.[55] In Egypt, construction began May 2025 on the Obelisk hybrid of 1.1 GW solar and 100 MW/200 MWh BESS, financed with USD 479 million including an EBRD equity bridge loan, marking one of Egypt's first such integrated projects.[7][45]Financial Performance and Growth
Revenue trends and key metrics
Scatec ASA's revenue trends reflect its business model as an integrated renewable energy developer, with growth primarily driven by the power production segment amid fluctuating development and construction (D&C) activity tied to project cycles. Proportionate revenues, which account for Scatec's ownership share in joint ventures and associates, provide a clearer view of underlying operational performance than IFRS consolidated figures. In 2024, proportionate revenues totaled NOK 7,853 million, a 36.5% decline from NOK 12,372 million in 2023, largely due to reduced D&C revenues following the completion of major projects such as 1.2 GW in South Africa, Brazil, and Pakistan.[56] Power production proportionate revenues, however, rose 24.1% to NOK 4,707 million in 2024 from NOK 3,792 million in 2023, supported by increased electricity output of 4,288 GWh (up 18.6%) from new assets in regions like the Philippines and Laos.[56] IFRS consolidated revenues showed steadier growth, reaching NOK 4,368 million in 2024, up 28.5% from NOK 3,399 million in 2023, driven by contributions from new projects and payments in Ukraine.[57] EBITDA followed a similar upward trajectory in core operations, with proportionate EBITDA increasing 22.1% to NOK 4,694 million in 2024 from NOK 3,845 million in 2023, reflecting operational efficiencies and asset sales gains.[56] D&C margins stabilized at around 11-12% in recent periods, while power production benefited from higher ancillary service rates and divestitures like the South African portfolio.[31] In the first half of 2025, proportionate revenues accelerated to NOK 4,689 million, a 70% increase from NOK 2,755 million in the first half of 2024, with Q2 alone at NOK 2,302 million (up 51% year-over-year).[31] Proportionate EBITDA for the period reached NOK 2,509 million, up 39%, fueled by strong performance in the Philippines and Laos, alongside 1,918 GWh of power production.[31] Key metrics include a project backlog of 3.2 GW as of Q2 2025, with 1.7 GW under construction, and gross corporate debt reduced by 26% to NOK 6.8 billion since Q3 2024 targets.[31]| Year | Proportionate Revenues (NOK million) | Power Production Revenues (NOK million) | Proportionate EBITDA (NOK million) | Electricity Production (GWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12,372 | 3,792 | 3,845 | 3,615 |
| 2024 | 7,853 | 4,707 | 4,694 | 4,288 |