Our history
Ardian has been operating in the field of renewable energy in Italy since 2007, through the acquisition from the Tozzi Group of a direct participation in two wind farms projects developed by Tozzi. Ardian extended its partnership with Tozzi in 2009 through a joint venture (TRE&Partners) which controls a significant number of wind and hydroelectric projects in operation or under development. Two years later, Ardian and Tozzi Group constitute TRE Solar, with the aim of diversifying investments to include photovoltaic and biomass, carrying out a series of purchase transactions between 2011 and 2013. At the end of 2016, Ardian becomes the sole owner of the 3New, after the purchase of the remaining participation from the Tozzi Group.
In December 2016 Energy Management Services S.r.l. was created, a consulting company set up ad hoc to identify and manage Ardian‘s investments in the renewable energy sector in Italy. Energy Management Services now offers a wide range of services to the other Italian companies belonging to the Ardian fund and active in the renewables sector, which include accounting, administration, finance & treasury, corporate and legal affairs, human resources, management systems, business development and asset management (including engineering and construction).
After a series of spot investments, involving CGE Palea Arsa in 2016 (with a ground-mounted solar plant), Tolve Windfarms Holding in 2017-2019 (with 3 wind farms) and the 4New group in 2019 (a holding company dedicated to investments in wind farm and solar energy projects in Italy and Spain), Ardian decides to continue investing in Italy through ACEEF (Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund), a fund launched in April 2022. From this perspective, Ardian acquires important corporate groups operating in renewable energy sector, with plants in operation and innovative projects to be implemented. In particular, between the end of 2021 and 2023 Ardian acquired the entirety of two historical groups based in Rome and operating mainly in southern Italy, equipped with in-house skills for the development, construction and management of plants from renewable sources:
- the Energia & Servizi Group, established in 2001, with 8 wind and photovoltaic plants in operation, as well as 2 important projects – now under construction – in Campania and Sicily;
- the ICQ Group, which has its roots in 1982, with consulting activities in the field of renewable energy and the first plant built in 1994, with 8 plants in operation (wind, hydroelectric and biogas) and new projects to be carried out in Puglia.
The “operational integration” of the plants, projects and expertise present in the various perimeters has led to the creation of the InEnergyGroup platform with the aim of consolidating and implementing new investments by Ardian in Italy, while promoting a solid organizational model, but with a keen eye on innovation and the future.
In 2025, ACEEF expanded its footprint in Italy with the acquisition of a 100% stake in a portfolio of 117 solar plants located in several Italian regions, forming the Fenice Solar 1 perimeter. The portfolio enhanced technology diversification of InEnergy Group with state-of-the-art revamped solar assets.