Allianz Capital Partners: Eliminating investment risk

Sector: Wind power
Company: Allianz Capital Partners

Allianz Capital Partners is an alternative investment manager and part of Allianz Global Investors. The company focuses on investing in private equity, infrastructure and renewable energy. Several of Ecogain's renewable energy clients work with Allianz Capital Partners.

An investment decision for a large new wind farm requires that all financial risks are eliminated. One of the major risks of investing in wind power in particular is the aspect of nature. Birds in particular enjoy protection. Those who do not have full control of the birds can be subject to conditions that are both unpredictable and costly.

Allianz Capital Partners knew the birds were managed by the project developer, but would the knowledge base be enough? Or were there hidden risks? It was natural for Allianz Capital Partners to engage Ecogain's expertise for the assignment. Ecogain has both the expert knowledge of nature and the birds, follows legal practices in the field and can translate all this into terms of risk.

Ecogain's mission was to provide an independent, third-party expert analysis for the investment decision.

The solutions consisted of several parts

  • Analysis of the permit for the activity, as well as the relevant documents submitted to the authorities in support of the permit
  • Evaluation of the quality of field studies carried out in the past
  • Qualified prediction of expected demands from the authorities, including a prediction of the need for compensatory measures for the birds
  • Suggestions for the most appropriate measures to be taken on site to eliminate the risks
  • A clear roadmap for the way forward with recommendations for Allianz Capital Partners.