Birdwood investment empowers Juice Energy from behind the meter

Birdwood Energy, a specialist investor in the renewable sector, has invested in Juice Energy, an innovative behind the meter renewable energy solutions provider for residential and commercial customers.

Birdwood has a $2bn portfolio of projects and investments. In Juice Energy, Birdwood recognised an opportunity to augment its front of meter energy strategy by partnering with a behind the meter provider. Birdwood’s view is that distributed energy should fulfill about 60% of Australia’s future energy requirement and offers the cheapest and fastest path to Net Zero.

Juice Energy collaborates with leading renewable energy technology providers to design, develop, finance, monitor and maintain solar panel, battery storage and smart EV charging solutions.

With over 400 commercial solar energy assets across all states and territories, Juice Energy extends Birdwood’s reach into the small and medium-sized business market, where it can provide customers both energy security and immediate savings. Aided by the Birdwood team’s decade of experience deploying batteries globally, the integration of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) behind the meter offers Juice customers sustainable growth as more of them look to implement a Net Zero strategy.

Birdwood’s Managing Partner Scott McGregor said, “Birdwood has committed $20million initially to expand Juice’s asset portfolio with a facility to expand as required. We are excited to support the experienced Juice team who have a sizeable portfolio of commercial projects already with a great on the ground team and partners ready to expand their customer services. With our Birdwood’s finance, battery and energy solutions experience together we will offer customers a market leading solution.

The investment was made through the Birdwood Distributed Energy Platform which was recently launched in partnership with leading Australian super fund Aware Super.

Juice Energy’s subsidiary Horan & Bird, which has installed solar solutions since 2009 in Far North Queensland, further underpins growth opportunities for both Birdwood and the Juice, with a base of over 20,000 residential and commercial customers.

Juice Energy’s CEO Jay Howard said, “we have built a very agile and unique energy and finance business that allows us to remain on the lookout for new renewable energy technologies that we can integrate into our own renewable energy network.”

While Juice Energy’s mission is to help all Australians transition away from fossil fuels and follow a Net Zero journey, they are also actively supporting current distributed network service providers (DNSP) to execute cost effective network constraint management strategies.

The combination of BESS and renewable generation across the distribution network will provide more reliable firm energy for DNSPs. Juice is partnering with DNSPs to take pressure off their networks whilst transitioning rural and remote customers to more cost effective and environmentally sustainable renewable energy solutions.

Replacing diesel generators and creating more efficient water pumping mechanisms with controllable solar and battery installations are emerging markets where regional businesses can improve energy security and experience significant energy savings.

Juice Energy’s solutions are enabling customers to not only reduce their energy costs but also carbon emissions.