Ersin Esenturk Enerjisa Head of Energy Retail Business Unit Ultimately, energy expenses are an important item in a sports clubs’ budget. The model we offer also contributes to financial sustainability for the clubs.
ENERJISA, the joint venture of Sabanci Holding and Germany-based E.ON, has sealed a deal with Galatasaray SK (GS) covering the installation of a solar energy power plant (SEPP) on the roof of Arena Stadium. The deal, between one of the top three companies in the energy sector with the largest installed capacity in electricity generation, according to MW100 Turkey Report published by Enerji Gunlugu and Kearney, and one of ‘The Big Three’ football clubs has caused a buzz, as well as raising some questions. We spoke to Enerjisa Head of Energy Retail Business Unit, Ersin Esenturk, about the deal and other issues the company has faced in the past year.
HOW HAS THE YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS?
Our common habits have completely changed during the pandemic. First, we’ve taken very important steps in order to protect our customers’ and employees’ health. We’ve developed applications enabling our customers to make transactions without going out of their houses. While we have shouldered responsibility for our individual customers, we have also developed end-to-end solutions for our corporate customers.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY END-TO-END SOLUTIONS?
We are talking about eco-friendly products. They increase renewable energy usage and reduce the carbon footprint, while they also provide saving opportunities in energy consumption. We have gathered these products together for our corporate customers under the name of ‘Energy of My Business’ with the motto: ’’Increase energy of your business, contribute power to your business”.
HAS THE SEPP PLAN FOR THE ARENA STADIUM BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS SCOPE?
Yes. The SEPP to be built on the roof of Galatasaray SK’s stadium has been developed as a solution within the scope of the Energy of My Business. In fact, we have worked on more than one solution at the meetings with the club. In other words, research has been conducted not only on SEPP, but on other solutions. However, we have particularly focused on this project as the stadium has a large roof area and it is suitable for installment of a solar energy system.
WHY YOU? WAS THERE NO OTHER OPTION FOR GS?
Of course, we know that different solutions from different firms have been offered to the club. However, none of them proceeded to the signature phase. The business model we offered was the biggest factor in Galatasaray’s choice of Enerjisa. First, approximately TRY 20m of the investment cost will be borne by Enerjisa. This cost includes the project’s design, installation, investment and implementation. It’s very important that this is a business model based on the SEPP’s performance.
HOW WILL A PERFORMANCE-BASED MODEL WORK?
Enerjisa bears the first investment cost in this model. With its completion, the property of the SEPP is transferred to costumer. The customer makes payments based on the energy generated according to rates on the long-term performance contract. Since Enerjisa maintains the SEPP during the contract period, the customer doesn’t have to bear these costs either.
ARE YOU NEGOTIATING WITH OTHER CLUBS?
There are many projects that are at the signature stage, in addition to the projects which we have already signed and whose installations have almost been completed. Various sports clubs are also interested in our solutions. Ultimately, energy expenses are an important item in a sports clubs’ budgets. The model we offer also contributes to financial sustainability for the clubs. In this respect, it’s possible for us to offer not only SEPPs, but all suitable solutions.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER TARGET CUSTOMER GROUPS?
Our negotiations continue with many different institutions alongside sports clubs. However, we can’t state their names for now due to our confidentiality commitment. The target of our solutions isn’t limited only to stadiums. Products from the Energy of My Business can be implemented in all areas, wherever energy is consumed and efficiency needs to be increased. Moreover, we can also offer solar energy solutions to all customers who have suitable rooves or land and who want to generate the electricity they consume.
CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THESE GROUPS?
They include hospitals, hotels, building enterprises, and consumers operating in the manufacturing sector. However, our product range includes many different topics such as efficiency solutions, green energy supply, co-generation and tri-generation plants and e-mobility solutions. We have an opportunity to offer beneficial and suitable solutions for almost every type of customer at the corporate level.
HOW MUCH IN RESOURCES HAVE YOU ALLOCATED TO THIS BUSINESS SINCE YOU WILL BUILD PLANTS?
We aim to invest TRY 1bn by the end of 2025 for works within the scope of products and electromobility solutions we offer within the frame of the Business of My Energy.