About us

“We at Apricum are committed to playing our role in accelerating the renewable energy transition, helping to safeguard this beautiful planet for our children and future generations.”

Nikolai Dobrott, Managing partner, apricum

What Apricum can do for your cleantech business

Connecting the cleantech companies with the right investors.

Established in 2008, we’re a globally active transaction advisory and strategy consulting firm dedicated to the cleantech industry. Our growth-oriented services connect investors and companies both public and private, including mergers and acquisition, fundraising, project finance, strategy development, business model design and technology roadmaps.

Guiding you to the best decisions
and opportunities.

We’re headquartered in Berlin with offices in London, Paris, and Dubai and representatives in key renewable energy markets around the world. Our team of experts offers decades of combined technical experience coupled with top management, consulting and finance expertise. We move a broad variety of companies forward – from high-tech startups to financial investors and multi-billion US dollar conglomerates.

How do we realize both efficient and sustainable growth in the dynamic cleantech industry?
Growing a company is a common goal shared by many in our industries. But having the goal and mapping the way forward are two different things. At Apricum, we pair both companies that have just launched and established industry players with the investors and experts that help a company achieve sustainable growth.
Whether you’re seeking strategic or financial investors, we have the contacts and the expertise to guide your business development activities to sustainable success. We’re proud to connect today’s cleantech companies around the world with the investment and expertise needed to master tomorrow.

A global network of experts

World map showing Apricum's offices and local network

11

local representatives

400+

projects completed

>€3.3 bn

transaction volume
involvement

30+

countries where our clients
reside

The cleantech industries that our clients are pioneering

Apricum is focused exclusively on renewables and cleantech. Our knowledge spans the entire value chains in these industries. We command a comprehensive overview of the market dynamics, drivers and economics, as well as a deep, engineering-level technical understanding.

Solar

We are active across the full range of solar technologies including photovoltaics (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar hot water (SHW). We span the entire solar value chain from component manufacturing, module manufacturing (e.g., crystalline silicon, thin-film, CPV concentrators), system integration and project development to power generation.

Contact Apricum Managing Partner Nikolai Dobrott for further information.

Solar materials

Our activities span the complete spectrum of solar materials required in the production of PV modules, ranging from active cells (cell materials, coatings, connectivity) via cell packaging (encapsulant, backsheet, glass) to value-added coatings (light-shifting, anti-reflective, anti-soiling) up to frames and mounting systems for the finished modules.

Contact Apricum Partner Florian Haacke for further information.

Wind

Our wind practice is focused on the utility-scale segment in both onshore and offshore wind. We engage along the entire wind value chain from upstream materials, component manufacturing and integration to downstream project development, EPC, O&M services and power generation.

Contact Apricum Managing Partner Nikolai Dobrott for further information.

Energy storage

Energy storage is a key element of the new energy system, be it mechanical, (electro)-chemical or thermal based. On the one hand, energy storage provides flexibility by mitigating or managing the impact of a growing share of variable renewables and bi-directional energy flows. On the other hand, storage is increasingly chosen as the preferred infrastructure option to defer investments in grid or generation or to increase system resiliency in the face of extreme weather events. Apricum offers support to participate in this growing business opportunity through our extensive knowledge of use cases, markets, economics, technologies – and how they all fit together.

Contact Apricum Partner Florian Mayr for further information.

Battery materials

We are engaged across all materials and components used in batteries and capacitors for EV and stationary storage. Ranging from batteries active cell chemistry (cathode and anode), via electrolytes and binders to polymer films/non-wovens as separator membranes. Both liquid and solid state. Special attention in our work is paid to innovative chemistry, novel additives, value-added coatings – all targeting improvements of long-term storage performance.

Contact Apricum Partner Florian Haacke for further information.

(Green) hydrogen

Hydrogen, particularly when renewable energy is used for its production (“green” hydrogen), will play a key role in the global clean energy transition, helping to decarbonize industrial processes such as the production of chemicals or steel as well as in oil and gas refineries and mobility applications. The green hydrogen economy is set to grow rapidly, driven by falling costs, growing demand and favorable regulatory and market frameworks. Apricum offers a wide range of strategy and transaction advisory services for clients along the entire green hydrogen value chain, including materials and components enabling high performance-cost ratios.

Contact Apricum Partner Florian Mayr for further information.

Green mobility

Along with the ongoing electrification of the transport segment, we offer strategy consulting and transaction advisory services for both e-mobility and power-to-mobility (see also Power-to-X). We have a deep understanding of the applicable business models, from manufacturing of vehicle components and charging/fuelling infrastructure, to charge point operation (CPO), electric mobility provision (EMP) and innovative mobility services. As green mobility is closely interrelated with our activities in energy storage (e.g., vehicle-to-grid, second life) and digital energy (e.g., smart infrastructure), we are able to provide our clients with unparalleled coverage of all relevant aspects.

Contact Apricum Director Alex Metz for further information.

Digital energy

Digital infrastructure such as sensors, software platforms and communication networks are increasingly applied across the energy sector to realize cost savings for example, by  optimizing asset utilization, streamlining O&M and facilitating transactions. Furthermore, digital energy is applied to unlock new revenue streams by aggregating distributed energy resources to access attractive market schemes, among others. Leveraging Apricum’s vast experience in applicable industries such as solar & wind, energy storage and green mobility, we provide strong guidance to understand and seize the benefits from the growing digitalization of the energy world.

Contact Apricum Partner Florian Mayr for further information.

Heat pumps

Our heating practice is focused on heat pumps (HP) and covers all different HP technologies and market segments. Heat pumps are an essential element of the new energy system and play a key role in the heating decarbonization of residential buildings as well as in the commercial and industrial sectors. Apricum offers a wide range of strategy, project, and transaction advisory services for clients who wish to enter the heat pump business or expand their existing activities in this sector.

Contact Apricum Managing Partner Nikolai Dobrott for further information.

Waste-to-energy

An integral part of the waste hierarchy is the generation of energy, primarily in the forms of electricity and heat, from waste. Following waste reduction, waste reuse and waste recycling, the transformation of residuals into energy and valuable materials, for example, as refuse-derived fuels and solid-recovered fuels, creates an equally important and rare possibility of clean electricity baseload generation. Simultaneously, inevitable landfilling is reduced significantly while waste-to-energy fulfils its unique task to defang a vast number of hazardous substances. Apricum offers advisory and support in the waste industry with particular focus on waste-to-energy, wastewater treatment and municipal solid waste management. Building on our vast industry network and transaction advisory experience, we provide our clients with comprehensive M&A support, strategy advisory and project finance expertise.

Contact Apricum Managing Partner Nikolai Dobrott for further information.

Water

Water
Global water supply and sanitation are facing increasing pressure. Our advisory activities in the water sector help address these issues and focus on project (finance) advice for reverse osmosis desalination plants, wastewater treatment, and sewage treatment plants.

Hydroelectric energy
Hydropower plants have always been an integral and vital element of the power mix. In addition to being a sustainable energy source, they provide energy storage and backup power potential. Apricum advises on the structuring and financing of run-of-the-river, pumped storage and other hydropower plants.

Contact Apricum Vice President Corentin de Ricaud for further information.

Bioenergy

Biomethane is amongst the most versatile renewable sources of energy. Its applications, among others, include electricity generation, heating, fuel for cars, trucks, ships or locomotives, the production of green hydrogen or as a base material for plastics and other industrial products. Apricum offers a wide range of strategy and transaction advisory services for clients along the bioenergy value chain, including markets, economics and technologies to achieve the efficient use of bioenergy as part of the renewable energy mix.

Contact Apricum Managing Partner Nikolai Dobrott for further information.

The Apricum Team

Expertise, experience and passion characterize and unite our talented and diverse team members. The nature, variety and complexity of our clients’ projects attract the high-caliber management consultants, investment bankers, engineers, entrepreneurs and thought leaders that make up our team. With backgrounds in engineering, economics, physics and business administration and residing currently in 12 countries, we’re well-educated, multilingual and deeply connected to local renewable energy markets around the world.

Our leadership

Nikolai Dobrott

Nikolai Dobrott

Founder & Managing Partner

Nikolai Dobrott has profound technology and market knowledge in the solar, wind, water and integrated renewable energy industries, combined with deep functional expertise in strategy development, strategic business plan execution and corporate finance. He speaks at major cleantech and renewable energy conferences worldwide every year.

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Florian Haacke

Florian Haacke

Partner

Florian Haacke advises clients and investors on the full upstream value chain of solar, batteries, green hydrogen, CCS, CCUS, biofuels and other renewable technologies. With more than 15 years of experience in this field, he combines deep market and technical knowledge with strategic and transactional expertise.

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Charles Lesser

Charles Lesser

Partner

Charles Lesser is a senior corporate financier in the international energy industry. He has over 20 years experience leading a wealth of successful transactions in public and private capital markets, and asset and corporate M&A. His award-winning career includes leading the energy investment banking practices for a number of internationally renowned city firms. He is based in London.

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Florian Mayr

Florian Mayr

Partner

Florian Mayr brings a wealth of management consultant experience to Apricum, combining an enviable knowledge of both the conventional energy and renewable energy sectors. Prior to Apricum, he spent eight years in senior positions at McKinsey & Company and RWE.

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Dr. Amer Alswaha

Dr. Amer Alswaha

Senior Advisor

Former head of IPP program, Saudi Electricity Company; senior vice president, Saudi Electricity Company

Paul Arwas

Paul Arwas

Senior Advisor

Former director and VP of energy and chemicals, Arthur D. Little; founder, Arwas & Associates

Karim Asali

Karim Asali

Senior Advisor

Former director BD origination, technical director, First Solar; director project enabling, Desertec Industrial Initiative

Jesse Atkinson

Jesse Atkinson

Senior Advisor and Country Representative USA

Former president Cratus Energy, board member, Alion Energy

Frank Beckers

Frank Beckers

Senior Advisor

Former head of project finance and advisory at First Abu Dhabi Bank; former senior advisor to McKinsey & Company; held several senior positions in project and asset finance at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and Dubai.

Dr. Raed Bkayrat

Dr. Raed Bkayrat

Senior Advisor

Former VP business development, First Solar; head of technology commercialization and industry collaboration, KAUST; director of system engineering and power electronics, DDS

Matt Black

Matt Black

Senior Advisor

Chairman, Solar Energy UK;  COO, Solivus;  MD, Innovo Group; former investment director, Armstrong Capital Management Limited; senior investment director, Foresight Group

Dietmar Blank

Dietmar Blank

Senior Advisor

Former commercial and contracts engineer / IWPP senior engineer, EWEC, ADWEC, ADWEA

Philipp Braukmann

Philipp Braukmann

Consultant

Master's in international trade, finance and development; former intern, KfW DEG

Chris Bryan

Chris Bryan

Director

Former vice president, business development – renewable energy, ORIX; investment banking associate, Evercore; senior associate, valuations advisory, PwC

Joseph Ciccone

Joseph Ciccone

Senior Consultant

Master's in materials chemistry; former industrial consultant, CNH Industrial, COO Gaia Membranes

James Clark

James Clark

Senior Advisor

Bachelor's degree, King's College, London; senior advisor, Green Future investments; co-founder, Obair partners; board advisor Comparis.ch 

Corentin de Ricaud

Corentin de Ricaud

Director

Master's in finance and strategy; former investment officer, European Investment Bank; financial advisor, ENGIE; analyst, BNP Paribas

Daniel Domingues

Daniel Domingues

Senior Advisor

Founder & CEO, Planno; former head of regional growth renewables, Dutco Group; founder & former executive director, Sirius Energy; former director of business development, Enviromena

Dr. Horst Dietz

Dr. Horst Dietz

Senior Advisor

Member of the supervisory board, ABB AG, Solon SE, Bilfinger Berger; former CEO, ABB AG

Dr. Garry Felgate

Dr. Garry Felgate

Senior Advisor

Former partner, Orion Innovations; chief executive and executive board member, Energy Retail Association; managing director, AEA Technology Group; director, The Carbon Trust; director, KPMG

Heinrich Grabowski

Heinrich Grabowski

Senior Advisor

Former member of EMEA senior leadership team, Novell; CIO, Rütgers/ Evonik; management consultant, Arthur D. Little

Philip Grabowski

Philip Grabowski

Consultant

Master's in management; former strategic management assistant, CNH Industrial; intern, Grant Thornton AG

Lorenz Haberstig

Lorenz Haberstig

Senior Consultant

Master’s in business innovation; former consulting associate, Charles River Associates;  former consultant innogy

Frank Haugwitz

Frank Haugwitz

Senior Advisor

Former director, Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory Co; former EU renewable energy manager, EU-China energy & environment programme; technical director, GTZ, China

Laura Hoffmann-Ostenhof

Laura Hoffmann-Ostenhof

Senior Consultant

Master's in energy systems, Bachelor's in physics; internships at Oxford Net-Zero, TopCap Holding, Generali Versicherung

Dr. Detlev Hoge

Dr. Detlev Hoge

Senior Advisor

PhD in physical chemistry. Former manager P&L, R&D, IT at Volkswagen, manager VARTA Batterie AG

Cate Holtz

Cate Holtz

Talent Acquisition and Development Manager

Former marketing and communications manager, Apricum; communications strategist, Ikon Communications, strategic planner, MEC

Julie Horn

Julie Horn

Senior Advisor

Master’s in business engineering; Master's in international management; former head of segment strategy, Solar Edge

Krzysztof Ignaciuk

Krzysztof Ignaciuk

Partner

Former senior manager, Strategy& / PwC; senior manager, Santander; engagement manager, McKinsey & Company; associate, Goldman Sachs; analyst, Merrill Lynch

Patrick Kallab

Patrick Kallab

Senior Consultant

Master's in business administration; Bachelor's in engineering; former senior consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton

Ritika Kapoor

Ritika Kapoor

Consultant

Master’s in sustainability and social innovation; former corporate analyst, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co

Despina Kavouna

Despina Kavouna

Analyst

Bachelor's in economics; former senior anaylst, Ernst & Young

Robert Kellner

Robert Kellner

Senior Advisor

Master's in Business Administration; founder and managing partner of VUCANION; former consultant, Accenture

Dr. Hendrik Kienert

Dr. Hendrik Kienert

Principal

PhD in climate physics; former senior consultant, Bain & Company

Solbin Kim

Solbin Kim

Associate and Country Representative South Korea

Master's in renewable energy engineering and management; former consultant, innogy Consulting

Erik Klaassen

Erik Klaassen

Principal

MBA, Master's in energy science, Bachelor's in chemistry; former manager, E.ON Inhouse Consulting; consultant, Ecofys

Horst Kruse

Horst Kruse

Senior Advisor

Former Director Sales Asia, Photovoltaics, Schott Solar; Director Marketing & Sales South East Asia, Angewandte Solar Energie (ASE) GmbH

Saravana Kumar

Saravana Kumar

Consultant

Master’s in management and mechanical engineering; former simulation engineer, QuEST Global

James Kurz

James Kurz

Project Manager

Founder and director, SolarNowa; former investment manager and business development manager, Saxovent

Dr. Oliver Langefeld

Dr. Oliver Langefeld

Senior Advisor

PhD in mining engineering; professor for underground mining methods and machinery at Clausthal University of Technology

Jesselyn Malimata

Jesselyn Malimata

Project Manager

Master's in management and engineering of environment and energy; Bachelor's in chemical engineering; former commercial planning specialist and energy trader, AES

Valentin Matelot

Valentin Matelot

Associate

Master's in management and international finance; former investment banking associate Credit Suisse

Cécile Mayorga Poati

Cécile Mayorga Poati

Executive Assistant

Bachelor's in history and French; former risk and compliance associate, intelligence and cyber security consultancy S-RM

Dr. Richard Mazuski

Dr. Richard Mazuski

Senior Consultant

PhD in physical chemistry; former associate, McKinsey & Co.

Alex Metz

Alex Metz

Director

Master's in sustainable energy futures, Imperial College London; former associate director, Guidehouse

Martin Milinski

Martin Milinski

Marketing & Communications Manager

Master's in comparative studies for social sciences; former media relations and campaign manager for Alstom

Dr. Beatrice Möller

Dr. Beatrice Möller

Senior Advisor

Senior legal counsel specialized in corporate, banking and energy law; former M&A lawyer, Linklaters; banking lawyer, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; legal advisor; MVV Energie

Christian Müller-Elschner

Christian Müller-Elschner

Senior Advisor

Founding partner, Deutsche Ventures; former COO, Younicos; senior vice president, T-Systems; partner, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants

Gretta Marija Nikkare

Gretta Marija Nikkare

Consultant

Master’s in business administration, Master’s in energy systems; former investment analyst, Exor N.V.

Dr. Elena Nikonova

Dr. Elena Nikonova

Senior Advisor

PhD in applied mathematics, former chief strategy officer, Eleport; former director of global partnerships, ENGIE; former director of global partnerships, Shell Recharge

Thomas Obermeier

Thomas Obermeier

Senior Advisor

Owner and CEO, TOMM+C;  head of business development, EEW Energy from Waste GmbH; former CEO, Schwarze Pumpe GmbH

Christian Orr

Christian Orr

Analyst

Bachelor's in mathematics and economics; former M&A lead, Fuse; former analyst, Getir

Per Hornung Pedersen

Per Hornung Pedersen

Senior Advisor

Member of management board, Suzlon Energy; former CFO, NEG Micon/Vestas; CEO, Suzlon Energy; CEO, Repower; CEO, Pelamis Wave Power

Matteo Pellandino

Matteo Pellandino

Consultant

Master's in finance; former intern Banca Sella CIB; former intern, Apricum

David Perez Lopez

David Perez Lopez

Senior Advisor

Master’s in industrial engineering; former global head of renewables and sustainable energies, Capgemini

Parrvathee Rejitha

Parrvathee Rejitha

Team Assistant

Master's in English and American studies; former online trainer, Berlitz; lecturer All Saint's College, Kerala

Joachim Rupp

Joachim Rupp

Senior Advisor

CEO, Detra Solar; former managing director, Viessmann PV + E-Systems; senior manager, Samsung; marketing manager, Hitachi

Hoora Sarajan

Hoora Sarajan

Senior Industry Specialist

Master's in renewable energy systems; Bachelor's in energy and process technology, Bachelor's in physics; former student researcher, PVcomB at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

Prof. Dr. Dirk Uwe Sauer

Prof. Dr. Dirk Uwe Sauer

Senior Advisor

Professor for electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems, RWTH Aachen University, Germany; Project leader, division for electrical energy systems, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Freiburg

Wassef Sawaf

Wassef Sawaf

Senior Advisor

Co-founder and CEO, Wayu Limited; former co-founder and chairman Yellow Door Energy; co-founder and CEO Adenium Energy Capital

Miriam Schmeling

Miriam Schmeling

Office Manager

Former Team Assistant, August Storck KG; Office Manager, Technical University Berlin

Tobias Schuett

Tobias Schuett

Senior Advisor

Founder and CEO of DZ4; former VP asset finance and leasing and renewables / structured products, Deutsche Bank

Dr. Benjamin Silcox

Dr. Benjamin Silcox

Senior Consultant

PhD in chemical engineering; former analyst Goldman Sachs & Co.

Janet So

Janet So

Senior Advisor

Director, Trinergy M&A Advisory; Director, Translink Corporate Finance; former senior consultant for PR firms; former consulting director for McGraw Hill’s AviationWeek / MRO Exhibition in Beijing

Kai Stepputat

Kai Stepputat

Consultant

Master's in industrial engineering and management from the Technical University of Berlin. Working student at Enertrag and Enervis energy advisors

Moritz Sticher

Moritz Sticher

Senior Advisor

Cofounder and managing director, GA Power Group; former managing director, Quast Nahrath Group; cofounder and managing director Credence Power Group; business development manager Europe, SolarPark Korea

Richard Stuebi

Richard Stuebi

Senior Advisor

Founder and president, Future Energy Advisors; former board member ESA; former VP, US strategy & group technology, National Grid; managing director, Early Stage Partners

Giovanni Sturiale

Giovanni Sturiale

Vice President

Master's in corporate finance and banking; Bachelor's in banking and finance; former credit analyst intern, Factorit, Italy

Krishnappa Subramanya

Krishnappa Subramanya

Senior Advisor

Chairman, FICCI solar energy task force & SEMI PV advisory panel; fellow, IETE; former CEO, Tata BP Solar

Dr. Yoshihisa Tawada

Dr. Yoshihisa Tawada

Senior Advisor

Former chairman, Kaneka SolarTec Corporation; chairman, Japan Solar Energy Society; director, PV Power Generation Technology Research Association

Daan Terpstra

Daan Terpstra

Senior Advisor

CEO, Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance; manager, renewable energy and BESS products, Vattenfall; analyst, Nuon; consultant, Energie Makelaar

Prof. Dr. Eicke Weber

Prof. Dr. Eicke Weber

Senior Advisor

VP, ISES; former CEO, Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS); director, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE; professor of physics and applied sciences, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg

Become part of the team

We are looking for people with the power to think of innovative solutions and who have the drive to change business.

Hello!
How can we help you
We’re open from
Monday to Friday
from 9am to 7pm
Phone: +49 30 30 877 620
Send us an email info@apricum-group.com

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