June 25 - Offshore wind power turbine installation contractor A2SEA, partly owned by heavy lift company Clipper Projects, has been acquired by UK-based DONG Energy for around USD 131 million.

Clipper and two private equity companies had built A2SEA to become a market leader for the installation and service work associated with offshore wind farms. A2SEA and DONG Energy have worked closely together for a number of years. 

Jens Frederik Hansen, CEO of A2SEA, comments: "The employees and management in A2SEA would like to thank the current board of directors and shareholders for the years of good co-operation. We now look forward to an exciting new era with DONG Energy as owner, which I am sure will be able to support the development of A2SEA with further investments in the company's capabilities and fleet."

Since its foundation in 2000, A2SEA claims to have installed more than 60 percent of the world's offshore wind power turbines. A2SEA is currently working with the installation of offshore wind turbines at Thanet, UK; Robin Rigg, UK; and Horns Rev II, Denmark. 

The company is headquartered in Fredericia, Denmark and currently has more than 200 employees. 

In the next issue of HLPFI, we take a closer look at the heavy lift and project cargo activity that supports the burgeoning worldwide growth of renewable energy production.