Energy business expands its US operations with acquisition

Clarke Energy, a Kohler Company, is expanding its geographical and product offering through the acquisition of Boston-based Co-Energy America, for an undisclosed sum.

Clarke Energy, based in Knowsley, Merseyside, entered the Midwestern US market in 2016.

The North East of the US offers an attractive CHP (combined heat and power) incentive base and ‘spark-spread’ – the theoretical gross margin of a gas-fired power plant from selling a unit of electricity, having bought the fuel required to produce this unit of electricity.

This acquisition includes the addition of 17 new employees and an installed gas engine fleet of 95 units, across five North Eastern US states.

Co-Energy America offers turnkey design, build and install, along with aftersales support.

This complements Clarke Energy’s existing product offering and expertise, factors which will be able to be deployed to support the growth of Co-Energy America’s business in the small CHP segment.

Clarke Energy’s chief executive, Jamie Clarke, said: “This acquisition gives Clarke Energy a strong footprint in the US market.

“It also expands our technological offering into the smaller CHP market.

“We will look to support the Co-Energy America team through our engineering and aftersales support strengths and capitalise on synergies with our existing Midwestern operations.”

Clarke Energy won the International Trade Category of this year’s BusinessDesk.com North West Business Masters Awards, held at Gorton Monastery in March.