Primevest transforms the lamp post into smart charging point to facilitate explosive growth of electric cars

 
 
The world’s oldest street technology, the lamp post, is being transformed by Primevest Capital Partners and its partners Dutch Charge, Nedal and CityTec into a multifunctional, digital charging point to address the huge shortage of charging points for electric cars across Europe.

The Dutch municipality of Renkum near Arnhem recently became the first ‘smart’ district in Europe after installing this sustainable and adaptable form of street lighting. Other municipalities and cities elsewhere in the Netherlands and beyond are expected to follow suit due to the huge and growing shortage of electric charging points.

At least one million electric vehicles are being sold across Europe on an annual basis and this number is expected to reach over 30 million in the next 10 years, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Peter Helfrich, Managing Partner at Primevest Capital Partners, said: “The potential of this market is enormous, particularly in our home markets the Netherlands and Germany, but also in the UK, France and Scandinavia. In the Netherlands alone, we are seeing exponential growth in demand for charging stations for electric vehicles and over 1.7 million charge points will be needed by 2030. Only 45 charge points are being installed a day at present which needs to multiply more than tenfold to 600 daily to meet the current demand. Our partners Dutch Charge, CityTec and Nedal have joined us in responding to these developments and are supplying comprehensive Citycharge lamp posts where modules for electric charging and, in the future, also Internet of Things, camera surveillance and 5G can be integrated.”

Joa Maouche, the alderman for climate and sustainability at the municipality of Renkum, added: “The municipality of Renkum has replaced almost all of its 6,300 lamp posts with the smart, sustainable versions supplied by Primevest CP and its partners. These lamp posts are now being equipped with new functions, such as camera surveillance, and later this autumn the first Citycharge charging stations certified by the Dutch E-Charging Foundation will be added. By adding these new features, we are creating a new form of street lighting that is truly ‘smart’. We are pleased that our municipality has contributed to this development that can help more municipalities to achieve their sustainability targets and combat the growing clutter in our public spaces due to the addition of new types of amenities.”

The number of electric cars in use globally is expected to explode over the next 10 years from 11 million in 2020 to 145 million in 2030, according to IEA estimates. In Europe, Norway (18.1%), Iceland (5.5%) and Sweden (3.7%) lead the way in terms of the market share of electric cars versus total stock. The UK aims to increase the number from 450,000 in 2020 to eight million by 2030. Germany is currently the largest market in Europe for electric cars: by 2020, 14% of all new cars sold were electric and the total number now stands at over 700,000.

Charging points for electric cars are just one of the new types of street furniture being added to public spaces. In the Netherlands, mobile telecom providers need to have access to 5G masts under requirements set by the Dutch economic affairs ministry for participation in the auction for national 5G frequencies. Dutch municipalities are also required to reduce their energy consumption by 55% by 2030 (EU fit for 55) and their CO2 emissions by a similar percentage to comply with the Dutch climate accord. Smart multifunctional lamp posts fitted with LED lighting can make a major contribution to achieving this goal.

Heimen Visser, Fund Manager Communication Infrastructure & Smart Cities at Primevest CP, concluded: “The municipality of Renkum is a pioneer in the Netherlands and perhaps the world with the installation of this smart infrastructure. We expect that other municipalities in the Netherlands, but also elsewhere in Europe, will soon follow Renkum’s example and roll out our multifunctional lamp posts. Our Smart City Netherlands model, which we have developed in collaboration with the Dutch municipalities bank BNG Bank, can easily be scaled up. And thanks to its multifunctional character, our smart masts are also much more sustainable and cheaper to purchase and maintain than the traditional lamp post.”

About Primevest Capital Partners
Primevest Capital Partners is a pan-European investment boutique that specialises in innovative real estate and property investments. At Primevest Capital Partners, our vision is to future-proof our cities by delivering better urban living, connectivity and mobility as we invest across Europe in contemporary, affordable homes, communication infrastructure and car parks. Our investment philosophy and vision are energised by the current trend of urbanisation and the ability to fulfil the modern needs of metropolitan communities, while enhancing the quality and sustainability of people’s lives. From our offices in Utrecht and Berlin, a team of 40 professionals manage €1.9 billion of assets across six sector-focused funds and two individual institutional mandates.

For more information, please contact:
Primevest Capital Partners
Lisette van der Ham
Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications
T: +31 6 832 005 61
lisette.vanderham@primevestcp.com
www.primevestcp.com

 

Primevest Communication Infrastructure Fund signs second ‘Fiber to the Curb’ contract in Wetterau, taking investment volume to over €80 million

 
 
The Primevest Communication Infrastructure Fund “PCIF” has secured its second Fiber to the Curb (FttC) supply contract in the Wetterau region of Hessen, taking its total investment volume to over €80 million following a first FttC deal in Leichlingen announced in August.

PCIF will finance the upgrading of the FttC telecommunications network in Wetterau, to the north of Frankfurt, in partnership with high-speed Internet provider YPlaY Germany GMb “YPlay”. The Fund is managed by Dutch-German ‘Smart City’ investment manager Primevest Capital Partners.

PCIF invests in critical telecommunications infrastructure, which it leases to multiple operating partners, including Vodafone and now YPlay in Germany and T-Mobile in the Netherlands. The Fund has committed to financing the replacement of the existing copper cables with optical fibre for the communities in and around Wetterau, upgrading this to a full Fibre to the Home “FttH” network, dependent upon sufficient consumer demand.

Despite its position as Europe’s largest economy, Germany lags behind in the provision of modern telecommunications infrastructure, with below 5.0% of households able to access the latest generation of superfast broadband services through FttH networks. It is estimated that between €70 billion to €80 billion of investment is required to upgrade all German municipalities to FttH, which in turn provides institutional investors with an enormous opportunity to participate in the ‘Smart City’ infrastructural investment of the future.

Klaus Leckelt, Project Manager at Primevest Capital Partners, said: “In an era where home working and home internet use for e-commerce and leisure activities is increasing exponentially, PCIF provides the necessary capital that allows people access to the high-performance fiber optic networks that are becoming a basic necessity of life. This ‘future-proofed’ telecommunications infrastructure ensures that consistent bandwidth and quality of services can be delivered to customers across the board.”

Yplay’s existing fiber optic network will be accessible to Wetterau households once the existing copper cable connections have been replaced, with FttC migrated to an FttH network over the next few years. The new FttH connections are being built by HessenKom GmbH & Co. KG (HessenKom) and will be leased by PCIF to YplaY. The first customers in the Altenstadt district will be migrated to the new FttH connections shortly with other areas already under development.

Peer Kohlstetter, Managing Director of HessenKom and YPlay, said: “This agreement creates a solid foundation for high-speed and reliable broadband coverage for our customers. With PCIF’s investment we are able to take over the existing network and enable the expansion of future-proof broadband connections without needing to invest our own financial resources in the network expansion and construction. This cooperation in Hessen means we are leading the way in the migration of existing FttC infrastructure to the next generation of fiber optic cables.”

PCIF will be investing a further €50 million in new fiber optic networks in other areas of Germany in the near future, including areas around Altenstadt, Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Klaus Leckelt, Project Manager at Primevest Capital Partners, concluded: “Our buy-and-build strategy supports local operating partners and municipalities in achieving sustainable growth through the responsible deployment of the capital of our institutional investors, such as insurers and pension funds.”
Primevest will coordinate both current and future network expansions and upgrades to ensure that the infrastructure is optimally tailored to the needs of the operator.

Founded in 2017, PCIF, provides residents and businesses in cities access to high-speed broadband connections. The Fund has a target investment volume of €600 million and is open to new institutional investors until the second quarter of 2021. Its focus is on passive communication infrastructure, such as fiber optic networks, cell phone towers and data centres which are needed to meet the increasing demand for broadband and to enable smart cities. PCIF works closely with telecommunications and cable operators, municipalities and other stakeholders and offers investors stable cash flow based on long-term leases with network operators.

About Primevest Capital Partners
Primevest Capital Partners is a pan-European investment boutique that specialises in innovative real estate and property investments. Due to its extensive industry knowledge with a focus on specialised investment sectors such as parking, telecommunications and affordable, contemporary living, Primevest Capital Partners has developed into a leading provider in these areas. Our top priority is to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns for our customers. In doing so, we pay attention to sustainable income and value creation. Primevest Capital Partners currently manages assets of € 1.7 billion, spread across eight sector-specific funds and three individual institutional mandates. Primevest Capital Partners currently has 40 employees at its locations in Utrecht and Berlin.

For more information, please contact:
Lisette van der Ham
Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications
lisette.vanderham@primevestcp.com
www.primevestcp.com

 

Primevest Communication Infrastructure Fund Seals First ‘Fibre to the Curb’ German Municipality Deal with Leichlingen, Investments Rise to €75 million

 
 
The Primevest Communication Infrastructure Fund (PCIF) has acquired the ‘fibre to the curb’ (FttC) network in the northwest German town of Leichlingen, close to Cologne, to deploy high speed optical connections.

This is the first such deal with a municipality in Germany, for Primevest Capital Partners which manages PCIF and enables ‘Smart City’ investments in markets across Europe.

PCIF invests in critical telecommuncations infrastructure, which it leases to multiple operating partners, including Vodafone in Germany and T-Mobile in the Netherlands. The Fund has committed to further invest in upgrading Leichlingen to a full FttH network, replacing the last mile of existing copper cables by optical fibre to bring the fibre to the home upon sufficient consumer’s demand.

PCIF’s total investments have risen to €75 million, after the inclusion of the Leichlingen agreement, and the Fund has a further €50 million in outstanding commitments to invest in new projects which are being constructed.

Klaus Leckelt, project manager at Primevest Capital Partners, said: “Germany is Europe’s economic powerhouse, but it lags behind other major economies in the provision of critical communications infrastructure that is required to underpin the growing demand for online commerce, home working and information access. Forward-thinking municipalities such as Leichlingen realise that they have to plug these gaps in their utility, or Stadtwerke, services and become technology-led ‘Smart Cities’ to preserve the prosperity of the local economy for businesses and residents.”

Leckelt added: “Primevest’s buy-and-build strategy supports local Stadtwerke and our telecom operating partners, because our investment interests are aligned in promoting the sustainable growth of these cities. We are a Dutch-German company, backed by responsible institutional investors such as pension funds, which focus on sustainable long-term returns and partnerships.”

The new FttH links will be built by GFS and leased by PCIF to its telecom operating partners, which include Novanetz and NetCologne. The first customers in the Witzhelden district already have a FttH connection and new areas are under development, including Wolfstall, Herscheid, Orth and Krähwinkel. The next phase for Kuhle, Bern and Hölverscheid, will follow before the end of 2020 and then the inner city areas of Leichlingen.

Primevest will coordinate both short-term and future network expansions and upgrades to ensure the infrastructure is optimized for the needs of its telecom operating partners.

Frank Steffes, Mayor of Leichlingen, said: “This agreement creates a solid base for Leichlingen’s Internet broadband coverage. By selling the existing network, we are facilitating the expansion of future-proof broadband connections without burdening the city’s own financial resources. This deal makes us one of the pioneers in the delivery of the latest generation of fibre-optic cables in North Rhine-Westphalia.”

The Primevest Communication Infrastructure Fund was established in 2017 and is backed by German institutional investor capital. It provides residents and businesses in cities access to high-speed broadband, which is now a basic necessity of life. The fund has a target investment volume of €600 million and is open to new investors until Q2 2021. Its focus is on passive communication infrastructure such as fibre-access networks, mobile towers and data centres, to meet the spiraling demand for broadband capacity and to drive the Smart Cities of the future. PCIF works closely together with telecom and cable operators, municipalities and other stakeholders and offers investors a stable cash flow on the basis of long-term lease agreements with network operators.

About Primevest Capital Partners
Primevest Capital Partners is a pan-European investment boutique that specializes in innovative real estate and property investments. Due to the extensive industry knowledge with a focus on specialized investment sectors such as parking, telecommunications and affordable, contemporary living, Primevest Capital Partners has developed into a leading provider in these areas. Our top priority is to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns for our customers. In doing so, we pay attention to sustainable income and value creation. Primevest Capital Partners currently manages assets of 1.7 billion euros, spread across eight sector-specific funds and three individual institutional mandates. Primevest Capital Partners currently has 40 employees at its locations in Utrecht and Berlin.

For more information, please contact:
Lisette van der Ham
Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications
lisette.vanderham@primevestcp.com
www.primevestcp.com

 

Primevest is Partner VGM conference “Transformation in the smart city”

 
 
On 16 September 2020, Vastgoedmarkt organises the conference "Transformation in the smart city. The road to intelligent construction."

The European Commission outlines a society that stands strong by digital solutions that put people first; give businesses new opportunities and strongly encourage the development of reliable technology. This digital transition is already fully taking place in our cities. Thanks to the available digital infrastructures, we can work from home, have online meetings and follow education online. Municipalities are increasingly using the digital applications too, for example, to make management of public spaces smarter. Residents, companies and organisations are increasingly dependent on the proper functioning of digital infrastructure. The transformation in the smart city is the way to an intelligent construction to tackle social challenges differently. The following themes will be discussed during this congress: smart mobility, the energy transition, integrated area development and digital security.

The urban network of 40 major municipalities (G40) has drawn up a strategic agenda. Here too, the digital transition is essential to realise the ambitions. In this event we will discuss themes from this agenda. We do this with appealing key notes, an expert panel, substantive break-out sessions and a smashing bouncer.

Primevest Capital Partners is Partner of this congress and may offer its relations a discount for this event. Please contact us at Lisette.vanderham@primevestcp.com if you would like to receive the discount code.

Who is this congress for?
Real estate professional, developers, architects, municipal officials (spatial planning directors, municipal secretary, city management), policy advisers and councilors.

For all information see: https://slimmestad.vastgoedmarkt.nl/

 

BNG Bank finances sustainability measures and transition to smarter public lighting by Primevest Capital Partners

 
 
Primevest Capital Partners introduces “Smart City Nederland” initiative for Dutch municipalities. Municipalities are receiving support in their sustainability measures and transition to smarter public lighting. BNG Bank is financing these sustainability projects. Municipalities enjoy long-term benefits of the various applications of smart lampposts.

BNG Bank is financing the Smart City initiative of Primevest Capital Partners which supports municipalities in the transition to sustainable and smarter public lighting. The transition to sustainable and smarter lighting is important to achieve the necessary reduction in energy consumption to reach the climate goals (faster). The Smart City Nederland initiative invests in the lampposts, after which the municipality will use public street lighting as a service of Smart City Nederland. How-ever, the lampposts will remain the property of the municipality. This will enable the municipality to make the transition to sustainable and smarter lighting in a much shorter term but spread the associated replacement costs over a longer period. Fur-thermore, in the future lampposts can be used for different purposes, such as imple-menting sensors to measure air quality, regulating traffic flows in the framework of the Environment Act, etc. However, it will soon also be possible to use lampposts for mobile Internet applications (Wi-Fi and 5G), as a charging point for electric cars, as camera surveillance for public order and for security and other “Smart City” applications.

“With Smart City Nederland, Primevest Capital Partners and its partners are supporting municipalities with an integral approach to the transition to sustainable and smarter lighting on the one hand whilst preparing for the implementation of Smart City applications on the other hand,” says Heimen Visser, fund manager of the Smart City Nederland initiative. “In addition, municipalities will also benefit from the added revenue that will be generated by the smarter use of the lamppost. With Smart City Nederland, we are creating a platform which makes it possible to transform public lighting from a cost item to a revenue model for the municipalities, letting them retain control of what happens in their public outdoor space,” Heimen Visser continues.

The Municipality of Renkum is the first municipality to choose to use the Smart City Nederland initiative. Over the coming 2.5 years, around 6,000 lampposts will be replaced in Renkum by sustainable and smarter public lighting in partnership with consortium partners CityTec and Luminext. This will mean that in 2022 the municipality of Renkum will already have met the climate goals as set for 2030 with energy savings of over 60%. “In recent years, we have been trying to get support for tendering for new public lighting. We are desperately in need of renewal: our area is really out-dated and some of our lampposts are about to collapse. So we can’t wait until the first lamps are replaced and new lampposts are installed. We look forward to a great new partnership in a unique tender form!” says Kevin Groen, project manager in the municipality of Renkum.

Smart City is a scalable solution which Primevest is currently discussing with many
municipalities.

BNG Bank is financing Smart City Nederland. “As a partner for municipalities to achieve a more sustainable Netherlands, the Smart City Nederland initiative very much reflects our ambition to be an engaged partner for a more sustainable Netherlands. We enable the public sector to achieve social goals like the energy transition,” says Judith de Bleyser, Public Finance specialist at BNG Bank.

For more information about our Smart City Initiative, please visit: www.smartcitynederland.com

Currently this website is only in Dutch, English will be added soon.