E.ON, the world's largest investor-owned utility, is expanding its Stateside operations with a new business unit that will provide customized asset management, maintenance and repair services to North American renewable energy projects.
Already one of the largest U.S. renewable energy generators, E.ON has more than $5 billion invested in North America and owns, operates or maintains nearly 3 GW of capacity on the continent. It is now forming E.ON Energy Services to capture what it says is a growing yet under-serviced market. E.ON said the new business would leverage the groups global experience and turn it to its U.S. customer's advantage by driving more efficient and profitable renewable energy project performance.
"As we transitioned to an operations-focused company several years ago, we saw a large, growing demand for qualified service providers, said Patrick Woodson, E.ON's North American chairman. Supporting project owners and investors to get more performance, efficiency, and revenues from their projects is at the core of E.ON Energy Services. We'll leverage nearly a decade of experience to offer a one-stop shop to small, mid-size, and big customers alike."
The German utility sees its ability to customize asset management services as key to service the fast-growing wind and solar markets.
"For more passive owners, we can perform site and balance of plant (BOP) management during warranty periods all the way to full asset management services, Woodson added. For more active owners, we can supplement current efforts on major repairs, inspections, or long-term maintenance to keep infrastructure investment costs down."
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While the company said North Americas solar and wind markets continued to expand greatly, it pointed that there were relatively few nationally active service providers.
E.ON said its energy services division would provide project owners and investors with services that can:
- Protect equipment through simple maintenance techniques that dramatically improve operating conditions
- Save costs by retrofitting equipment when that is a more cost-effective alternative to expensive replacements
- Innovate technology by working with parts vendors and manufacturers on design fixes
- Improve safety with pro-active solutions that can lower on-site operating risks.
"This is another example of how a robust wind and solar industry continues to create more American jobs and business investment here at home," said Woodson.
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