Cloudberry Clean Energy ASA has entered into an agreement with a European infrastructure investor to establish one of the largest small-scale hydro platforms in the Nordics, with Cloudberry as the controlling shareholder. This transaction will increase Cloudberry's proportionate hydro production from ~200 GWh to ~300 GWh and the consolidated HydroCo portfolio will comprise around 500 GWh (70 GWh currently consolidated) of producing and under-construction hydropower plants. The majority of the combined portfolio is located in attractive southern price regions.
Cloudberry will inject its hydropower portfolio and hydro projects as contribution in kind in HydroCo. Through an additional cash payment of approximately EUR 5 million, Cloudberry will obtain an ownership stake of approximately 60% in HydroCo. HydroCo's hydropower portfolio will total ~500 GWh on a 100% basis.
Cloudberry's proportionate exposure will be approximately 300 GWh, of which 6 projects are under construction. HydroCo will consist of a team of 6 people with leading small-scale hydro capabilities Following the inclusion of Cloudberry's hydro projects, the portfolio will benefit from a project backlog of a total of approximately 300 GWh, including the existing Cloudberry backlog projects. HydroCo will have its own corporate financing structure, targeting an approximately 50/50 loan to value ratio.
This will, together with approximately EUR 5 million - EUR 8 million in expected funding from Cloudberry, be sufficient to fund the remaining capex on the projects under construction. This partnership provides Cloudberry with control over a large, diversified hydro portfolio, with a limited liquidity impact. The collaboration brings increased development competence and capabilities, a substantial project backlog, and a strengthened industrial network complementary to Cloudberry's existing team.
Cloudberry will manage the portfolio, doubling its hydro asset management volumes and increasing both profitability and operational leverage. The combined portfolio is expected to deliver stable, long-term cash flows, with an average asset life exceeding 50 years.
