The world’s largest pure-play sustainability advisory firm, ERM, has acquired E4tech – an energy and sustainability strategy consultancy specializing in innovative and disruptive low-carbon technologies.
The acquisition brings deep expertise and new capabilities in emerging low-carbon energy technologies to ERM. This will enhance ERM’s ability to advise clients seeking to shift towards a lower-carbon future.
E4tech’s fast-growing team of 35 employees, based primarily in the UK and Switzerland, join ERM’s 1,600 experts in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. The acquisition will enable ERM to leverage E4tech’s unique capabilities to support its clients globally. The leadership team of E4tech join ERM as partners.
Keryn James, CEO, ERM said: “This is an exciting time for ERM. We are rapidly expanding our capabilities to support clients at all stages of their decarbonization journey, from developing a net zero strategy, implementing energy efficiency or reduction measures, to deploying low-carbon technologies, repurposing or retiring fossil fuel assets and managing related environmental liabilities. We are delighted to welcome E4tech to our growing team.”
E4tech helps businesses and governments identify transition opportunities through the next generation of technologies designed to decarbonize key sectors of the economy. This includes new and emerging types of energy, alternative energy storage solutions, low-carbon chemicals and applications of these technologies in the transport, power generation and other energy intensive sectors.
E4tech supports clients in analysing, investing in and deploying cutting-edge low-carbon technologies, sometimes for the first time, and in developing and implementing related strategies and policies to sustain their impact.
ERM has been rapidly growing its advisory services to support the transition to a lower-carbon future through this and other related acquisitions. This includes renewable energy consultancy Arcus and sustainability consultancy Sustainalize in 2021, and specialist energy, climate change and sustainability advisory firm M.J. Bradley & Associates LLC (MJB&A) in 2020.
This latest acquisition follows the announcement of KKR’s long-term investment in the ERM business, which will further increase the company’s ability to drive differentiation and market leadership through strategic mergers and acquisitions.
Keryn James said: “Climate ambition has exploded in the past year with the doubling of net zero commitments worldwide. With the UN climate conference COP26 fast-approaching, pressure is increasing from shareholders, investors, regulators and consumers for businesses and governments to set and deliver on ambitious targets aligned with science.
“This latest acquisition strengthens our ability to support clients in carving out decarbonization pathways and, critically, to seize the opportunities presented by the low-carbon technologies of today and tomorrow.”
Ausilio Bauen, Director, E4tech, said: “Since our foundation, we have strived to combine a deep understanding of low-carbon technologies, policies and business imperatives to help our clients to grow.”
“The urgency of the low-carbon transition is fueling innovation and growth in all novel technology areas, and we’re excited to see our specialist subjects becoming mainstream,” added David Hart, Director, E4tech.
“Becoming part of ERM helps E4tech’s extraordinary team and skills in low-carbon technology to be brought to bear on the challenges faced by the world’s leading organizations,” said Adam Chase, Director, E4tech.