EB-SIM invests in Finnish grid stability

• The ‘EB Energy Transition Europe’ infrastructure fund has acquired an 80 per cent stake in a battery storage portfolio.
• Five state-of-the-art large-scale storage facilities in western Finland provide a usable storage capacity of 89 MWh and a total output of 34 MW.
• The portfolio is scheduled to be fully operational by June 2027.

EB – Sustainable Investment Management GmbH (EB-SIM) has acquired an 80 per cent majority stake in the Icecreek Energy II battery storage project in Finland for its closed-end infrastructure fund, ‘EB Energy Transition Europe’.

The portfolio comprises five planned stand-alone large-scale energy storage facilities at strategic locations in western Finland. The facilities are based on state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology and will be connected directly to the grids of the respective local distribution system operators (DSOs) at the medium-voltage level. At the start of operations, the portfolio will have an installed capacity of 34 MW and a usable storage capacity of 89 MWh. The facilities are designed for a planned operational life of 15 years. The entire project has a European focus: with the exception of the battery cells, which are manufactured in China, the entire rest of the value chain meets the ‘Made in Europe’ standard.   

Construction on the first project began as early as the second quarter of 2026, with commercial operation targeted for January 2027. The last of the five subprojects is scheduled to complete the portfolio in June 2027. The turnkey construction and long-term maintenance will be handled by the Finnish battery storage provider Cactos Oy. 

“This portfolio transaction covering the full turn-key EPC, operation, maintenance, optimisation and trading of five BESS sites in Finland is the result of close collaboration between Cactos, Icecreek and EB-SIM from an early stage. Our track record of end-to-end delivery across Finnish BESS projects gives us confidence in both the timeline and technical execution, and we look forward to delivering Icecreek Energy II through to commercial operation and providing long-term operations across all five sites,“ said John Graham, Managing Director, Projects & International Operations at Cactos.

A key element in Finland’s energy transition

The Finnish electricity market is changing rapidly: According to forecasts, the share of renewable energy in the country’s electricity generation will rise to over 80 percent by 2050. Since electricity production from wind and solar power fluctuates greatly depending on weather conditions, large-scale storage systems are essential for absorbing excess production, relieving strain on the grid, and providing the necessary flexibility in the market.

The portfolio’s business model is based on balancing grid fluctuations, storing excess electricity during periods of low demand, and then feeding that electricity back into the grid at strategic times when there is a shortage and market prices are correspondingly higher.

“Large-scale storage facilities are the much-needed link in a decarbonised energy supply. By investing in this Finnish portfolio through our infrastructure fund, EB Energy Transition Europe, we are capitalising on a highly attractive market opportunity. This investment will not only secure long-term value for our investors but also make a measurable contribution to the stability of Europe’s electricity grids,” said Dr Bernhard Graeber, Managing Director and Head of Real Assets at EB-SIM.

“With the successful financial close of Icecreek Energy II, we have reached an important milestone. The energy transition requires large-scale storage to succeed, and we are proud to be contributing to this effort in Finland. The collaboration with EB-SIM and Cactos has been excellent from the very beginning. Both share our long-term commitment, and we look forward to further expanding this partnership in the coming years,” said Fabian Siegel, Managing Partner of Icecreek Energy.

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This is a marketing communication and is intended exclusively for persons resident or habitually resident in the Federal Republic of Germany. The contents of this document are for information purposes only. They do not constitute investment advice or a recommendation, nor do they constitute an offer or advice regarding the purchase or sale of the fund. The sole binding basis for purchase is the sales documentation (key investor information document, prospectus, annual and, where applicable, half-yearly reports), which you can obtain free of charge in German from EB-SIM. Please refer to the sales documentation for details of opportunities and risks. The information contained in this document does not constitute a recommendation on investment strategy within the meaning of Section 85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG). Past performance, forecasts and other simulations are not a reliable indicator of future performance. When making your investment decision, please also take into account all the fund’s sustainability-related characteristics and objectives, as described in the prospectus or, where applicable, in the information to be disclosed to investors in accordance with Article 23 of Directive 2011/61/EU, Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 and, where applicable, Article 14 of Regulation (EU) No 346/2013. The relevant management company may decide to revoke the arrangements it has put in place for the distribution of units in its collective investment undertakings, in accordance with Article 93a of Directive 2009/65/EC and Article 32a of Directive 2011/61/EU.