Energy infrastructure investment manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire the European onshore renewable energy business of Denmark-based energy developer Ørsted, in a transaction valued at €1.44 billion (USD$1.7 billion).
The transaction marks the completion of a major divestment program for Ørsted aimed at shoring up the company’s capital position, following a turbulent period for the company which has faced a challenging political and economic environment, particularly in the U.S., with the Trump administration attempting to reverse the prior administration’s focus on renewable energy, and offshore wind in particular.
Under its divestment program in 2025 and 2026, Ørsted said that it has signed transactions totaling approximately DKK 46 billion (USD$7.3 billion), ahead of its DKK 35 billion target, with cornerstone transactions including the sale of 50% stake in one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, the UK’s Hornsea 3, to investment manager Apollo, and the sale of a 55% stake in the Changhua 2 Offshore Wind Farm in Taiwan to Cathay Life Insurance.
According to Ørsted, the sale also forms part of its strategy to refocus on offshore wind in its core European markets.
Trond Westlie, Chief Financial Officer of Ørsted, says:
“Ørsted’s European onshore business has developed a very solid pipeline and project portfolio, and I’m very satisfied that we’ve found a new owner of that business in CIP, as we’ve decided to concentrate our efforts on offshore wind in our core European markets. The divestment of our European onshore platform finalises the divestment programme that we’ve laid out, and we’ve now substantially strengthened Ørsted’s financial position.”
Ørsted’s onshore European business encompasses more than 800 MW of operating (578 MW) and in‑construction assets (248 MW) and a multi‑gigawatt development pipeline across Ireland, the UK, Germany and Spain, spanning onshore wind, solar energy, and battery storage projects.
CIP signed the agreement through its fifth flagship fund, CI V. CIP announced the fund’s final close last year, raising €12 billion to invest primarily in large-scale renewable energy infrastructure in low-risk OECD countries situated in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, diversified across various technologies, including wind, solar PV and battery storage.
Nischal Agarwal, Partner in Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, said:
“This is a great opportunity for CI V to acquire a sizeable portfolio and pipeline of projects across technologies in Europe’s most attractive markets with very strong demand growth. Along with a trusted team with a track record of delivering and operating projects, we are well positioned to further develop, manage, and realise the full value potential of the platform.”
