Osborne Clarke advises Chint Solar Europe on first BESS portfolio transaction with Second Foundation in Germany

Osborne Clarke has advised Chint Solar Europe (“Chint”), a leading European player active in the development, financing, realization and operation of renewable energy projects, on its first battery energy storage system (BESS) portfolio transaction in Germany with technology and energy trading company Second Foundation. The transaction comprises the sale of five BESS projects with a combined capacity of 56 MW and 180 MWh, which will be delivered on a turnkey basis by Chint, including EPC and O&M contracts.

The projects are located in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg and have been developed by Chint to ready-to-build status. With the first projects already under construction, grid connection to the medium-voltage network is scheduled between Q2 2026 and Q3 2027. The portfolio forms part of Chint’s fast-growing battery storage pipeline in Germany and represents an important milestone in the company’s strategic transition from a pure-play solar developer to an integrated energy infrastructure solutions provider.

Through this transaction, Chint further strengthens its position in the German battery storage market and continues to expand its activities in the development of stand-alone and co-located BESS projects. The projects developed and realized by Chint are expected to support grid flexibility and contribute to the further integration of renewable energy into the German power system.

Structured as a forward COD deal, the transaction was supported by Capcora as exclusive financial advisor and by Osborne Clarke as legal advisor to Chint Solar Europe.

“We are very pleased to have successfully finalized the transaction on our first portfolio of standalone BESS projects in Germany with Second Foundation. This pipeline marks an important milestone for our company and underlines our strategic transition towards integrated energy infrastructure solution provider. We are looking forward to the timely realization and grid connection of the projects and to further scaling our BESS activities in Germany and across other European markets together with strong and experienced partners,” says Oliver Schweininger, CEO / Managing Director Chint Solar Europe.

Comprehensive advice on SPA, EPC and project contracts

Osborne Clarke advised Chint Solar Europe on all key legal aspects of the transaction, in particular on the structuring and negotiation of the share purchase agreement (SPA) and the EPC contract, as well as further project-related agreements. The advice focused on designing a pragmatic and bankable contractual framework tailored to the specific requirements of large-scale battery storage projects in a regulated energy market, including the interfaces between development, construction, operation and trading of the assets.

Combining its Corporate / M&A and projects expertise with in-depth know-how in energy infrastructure, Osborne Clarke supported Chint in implementing the forward COD structure in a legally robust manner while ensuring market-standard, investor- and financeable contract solutions.

The Osborne Clarke team was led by Dr Christoph Torwegge (Partner Lead) and Alexandra Abeln (Co-Lead) and further included Dr Karla Klasen (Project Contracts) as well as Felix Jaeger, Julian Tristram and Esther Erwin (all Corporate).