Netherlands-based BDR Thermea Group, a manufacturer and distributor of smart heating and cooling solutions, announced on Wednesday, January 18, that it has acquired its Dutch counterpart Fortes Energy Systems.
Fortes Energy Systems was founded in 1999 and is an internationally operating producer, supplier and partner in the construction and installation sector. The company is a specialist in collective heat and cold networks for residential, utility and industrial use. Its solutions combine an indoor climate, high hot water comfort, optimal system efficiency, and low energy consumption.
The products of Fortes Energy Systems are created for a large target market, including users of local energy generation in industry and agriculture as well as apartment buildings, workplaces, and households.
Some of the projects that Fortes carried out include De Zalmhaven residential tower in Rotterdam, the Cooltower in Rotterdam, Strijp-S residential and business complex in Eindhoven, Le Toison d’Or in Brussels (residential and retail project), De Makroon residential complex in Amsterdam and De Efteling Loonsche Land holiday park.
Aim of this acquisition
With the acquisition of Fortes Energy Systems, BDR Thermea Group will further add heat networks to its portfolio of energy transition solutions alongside heat pumps and hybrids.
Heat networks, which profit from economies of scale and take advantage of local waste heat possibilities, are among the most affordable solutions to reduce carbon emissions from heating, says BDR Thermea Group.
According to the company, besides heat pumps and hybrids, heat networks will be essential to decarbonising the heating industry. With hybrids, older buildings with poor insulation can cut their carbon emissions while using up to 70 per cent less gas. With time, using renewable gases like green hydrogen will help reduce the remaining gas use.
Currently, Fortes Energy Systems, with 68 employees, offers its solutions in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK, and Denmark. Fortes will continue to operate independently and operate in the market under its own name.
Bertrand Schmitt, CEO of BDR Thermea Group, says, “The world needs a mix of technologies if we are to decarbonise heating successfully. In fact, at BDR Thermea we often speak about 4H: heat pumps, hybrids, hydrogen and heat networks. Bringing Fortes Energy Systems into BDR Thermea means we can offer the full range of options to help accelerate the energy transition for heating.”
About BDR Thermea
BDR Thermea claims to be a market leader in the Netherlands in the field of sustainable indoor climate solutions through its Remeha brand. The Group, which reported a turnover of €1.8B in 2020, operates under renowned international “market-leading” brands, including De Dietrich, Baxi, Remeha, Brötje, Chappée, and Baymak.
Remeha leads the market in non-residential construction and heats more than 2 million homes in the Netherlands. It aspires to accelerate the transition to a CO2-neutral society by making sustainable indoor climate solutions attainable and cheap. Fortes Energy Systems has long been a significant ally of Remeha.
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