Decarbonising residential heating represents one of the most significant and pressing challenges that Europe currently faces in order to successfully achieve its ambitious net zero emission targets. With more than 90% of Europe's substantial 198 million households still heavily relying on traditional carbon-emitting heating systems, such as those primarily fuelled by gas, oil or coal, the necessary transition to sustainable renewable alternatives is both critical and remarkably complex. Although heat pumps are widely recognized as the most efficient and effective renewable heating solution available, their widespread adoption across the continent is being significantly held back by a persistent shortage of adequate installation capacity. The industry's continued reliance on a relatively small number of highly qualified local blue-collar workers substantially restricts the overall deployment and consistently provides an unreliable and increasingly costly installation journey for end customers.

The Solution

nuuEnergy effectively addresses the persistent issue of installation bottlenecks by combining centralised operations with local craftsmanship expertise. Unlike its direct competitors, nuuEnergy's local installation hubs serve as direct, trusted customer contact points, while all sales-related activities are systematically carried out centrally to boost operational efficiency and ensure both the speed and quality of installations. The company's hybrid approach successfully preserves the personal touch and technical expertise of regional craftsmen while leveraging the considerable advantages of advanced digitalised processes and larger-scale operations. Currently operating across key German markets, including Hamburg and Munich, nuuEnergy strategically plans to expand nationwide by franchising its proven business concept across major regional hubs in the country.

Why we invested

We invested in nuuEnergy because it successfully addresses the skilled labour shortage that has constrained heat pump adoption, thereby turning this market constraint into a competitive advantage. We strongly believe that quality is essential in convincing customers to upgrade to more expensive heating systems, and nuuEnergy's emphasis on local craftsmanship ensures the high standards necessary to earn customer trust. The team has proven to speak and understand the language of installers and identify where processes can be optimized and where the customer wants to trust the expertise of their local partner. With Germany targeting the installation of millions of renewable heating systems this decade, nuuEnergy is well placed to expand its operating model through a network of franchise partners.