The deal strengthens ADE’s leading position in the UK distributed energy market, further expanding its customer base and operational capabilities through Shawton’s proven experience and commercial relationships. Since its inception in early 2024, ADE has become one of the fastest growing companies in the UK onsite renewables sector and has recently entered the European market with expansion in Germany. ADE now owns and manages a high-quality portfolio of renewable energy assets, representing over 100MW of contracted capacity across more than 150 sites.
Credit: AMPYR Distributed Energy
Shawton Energy Point Lane Solar Farm
Following the acquisition, Shawton will maintain its mission to provide cheaper, greener energy to businesses from onsite renewable installations. The company will also retain its highly regarded brand, team, and offices in Warrington. ADE will work in close partnership with Shawton, providing competitive Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) funding and strategic support to deliver its impressive customer pipeline.
John Behan, CEO of ADE, commented: “This acquisition is the latest in a number of strategic moves that cement ADE’s position as a leader in the European C&I solar market. With ambitious growth targets, we are actively expanding our capabilities and assets under management. Our goal is to lead the sector by making onsite energy simple for our customers and partners.
”We have been impressed with the growth trajectory of Shawton under the leadership of Jamie Shaw. Shawton has built a strong market reputation and solid operating base of assets, alongside a material pipeline with leading corporates. We look forward to working closely with Jamie and his team to accelerate the deployment of onsite renewables across the UK.”
Founded in 2019, Shawton combines extensive market experience and technical expertise to offer an end-to-end service to customers. After taking a 50% investment from Lazard Asset Management in 2023, the business has completed multiple long-term rooftop PPA projects and developed the Point Lane 8.6 MWp solar farm project. These achievements have positioned the business for significant scale-up in the coming years, including through multi-site framework agreements with large clients across different industries. With a sizeable operational portfolio, strong project pipeline and established customer relationships, Shawton is one of the fastest-growing firms in the market.
Jamie Shaw, founder and CEO of Shawton, added: “Over the past two years, working with Lazard has enabled us to expand our portfolio, deliver key ESG initiatives, and strengthen our position in the UK distributed energy market. As a highly successful and rapidly growing business, we have an enviable base of operational assets and a strong pipeline of projects. Our partnership with ADE marks an exciting new chapter for our business. By joining forces, we have access to the capital and resources that will further support our growth in a consolidating market and competitive environment.”
Rob Wall, head of private infrastructure at Lazard Asset Management, concluded: “Shawton has been an excellent partner, delivering strong operational and commercial progress in a short time. This transaction proves our origination and value-creation capabilities, and positions Shawton for its next phase of growth.”