In 2019, Rassembleurs d’Energies (RDE) invested €7m in new geographical areas and new business segments (in new companies and others already in our portfolio). These companies are active in energy efficiency, decentralised low-carbon energies or individual green energy solutions.
These companies act in favour of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly with regard to access to clean and affordable energy, jobs for young people, tackling climate change, sustainable production and consumption, and health and well-being.
Companies supported in 2019
The investment in the French company Gecco (an ESUS, or social and solidarity-based enterprise) is the first made by the fund in the circular economy sector. Gecco, located in the Hauts de France region, collects used edible oil for transformation into biofuel.
With the American social enterprise Amped Innovation, RDE made its first investment in a B2B2C company. Amped designs and sells affordable solar home systems and devices for people earning less than $4 a day, enabling them to develop small businesses and increase their income. The products are sold through local distributors all over the world.
Rassembleurs d’Energies also made another investment in the circular economy in March 2020 with Qarnot Computing, which uses the waste heat created by data centres to heat social housing for free.
With regard to its existing portfolio, RDE supported the two decentralised electrification companies BBOX and PEG in their expansion in Africa and finalised the investment of a second tranche in Indian last-mile distribution company Frontier Markets.
