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Your Gravel-Pit As A Power Plant

– We’ll Show You How

Request our free white paper and find out how your gravel-pit lake can become a power plant.

Request White Paper Now
  • No sales pitch
  • Results in 5 business days
  • 100% free & no obligation

~500

Gravel-pit lakes in Germany with usable water surface

15%

Of water surface usable as PV potential

Up to 25ct

Savings per kWh of self-consumption

~85%

Self-consumption coverage

WHITE PAPER — WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Energy sovereignty starts on your own water surface

Record electricity prices, rising volatility and growing ESG requirements have turned energy into a strategic risk and a pure cost factor for the gravel and raw-materials industry. At the same time, an untapped resource sits on many operating sites: the water surface of your own gravel-pit lake.

Floating photovoltaics turns that surface into a productive energy asset — with no competition for land, higher yields than ground-mounted systems, and electricity costs that remain calculable for decades. What was once an outlier is today one of the most economically attractive renewable options for surface-intensive industrial operations.

In our white paper we share what we have learned from a decade of project work — from economics and permitting to technology and storage solutions. At the centre is a real-world project that serves as a blueprint for the entire industry.

IN WHITE PAPER

01.     Economics & cost framework

02.     Permits in Germany

03.     Technical set-up & storage

04.     Reference project as blueprint

ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY IN OPERATION

Philippsee Reference Project

At Philippsee, Nexentury has installed the largest floating solar plant — around 15 MWp, producing roughly 16 GWh of electricity per year. Not theory, but proven practice.

View Completed Projects

INTERESTED?

Your path to a Free potential check

In three simple steps you’ll find out what energy potential your water surface offers
— without obligations and without hidden costs.

STEP ONE

Fill Out The Form

Provide basic information about your gravel works, location, water-surface size (rough) and current electricity consumption. Takes under 3 minutes.

STEP TWO

We Analyse Your Potential

Our team analyses your water surface via satellite, checks the permitting situation and the grid-connection potential, and calculates a yield forecast and ROI.

STEP THREE

Personal Results Conversation

Within 5 business days you’ll receive your individual potential analysis — in a personal conversation, and on request directly on site at your lake.

YOUR BENEFITS

What To expect

Sizing of your project’s possible output
You receive a realistic capacity estimate based on your actual water surface, orientation and regional solar irradiance.

Individual economic calculation
Investment volume, annual savings, payback and return — cut to your actual electricity consumption at the works.

Initial assessment of the permitting situation
We review water law (WHG), Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) and nature-protection requirements for your site — the most common showstoppers, clarified up front.

Grid connection & self-consumption potential
How much electricity can you use yourself? Is feed-in possible? Which subsidies (EEG, KfW) apply to you?

Experience from the gravel-works sector
No generic PV knowledge — we know the specific demands of gravel works: operating sites, mining processes, ongoing permitting procedures.

No sales pressure, no commitment required
The potential check is genuinely free and non-binding. We want to show you first what is possible — the decision is entirely yours.

NEXENTURY

Request a Free potential check

Fill out the form — we’ll get back to you shortly.

✓ Satellite analysis of your water surface
✓ Economic calculation specifically for your works
✓ Assessment of the permitting situation (WHG, nature protection)
✓ Grid connection & self-consumption optimisation
✓ Personal results conversation
✓ 100% free

What gravel-works operators ask us

That depends on the permitting situation in each individual case. Relevant rules include water law (WHG), nature protection (BNatSchG) and any existing rights to use the water body. In most German federal states, floating PV on gravel-pit lakes is eligible for permits — subject to site-specific conditions. We clarify exactly that for you in the potential check.

Fishing rights and floating PV are not mutually exclusive. In practice, part of the water surface is used while the remaining area can still be fished. We advise you on how to work out a cooperative solution with your lease-holder — we’ve supported this several times already.

From roughly 3–5 hectares of water surface, floating PV is economically worthwhile — especially when there is meaningful self-consumption at the works. Smaller areas can still pay off where self-consumption is high. The potential check shows you the exact threshold for your operation
Absolutely not. The potential check is free and non-binding. We want to show you first what is possible on your surface — whether and how you proceed is entirely up to you. No pressure, no follow-on costs.
Realistically, 18–36 months from the first conversation to commissioning, depending on permitting complexity. The biggest time factor is the regulatory process. We accompany you through it from start to finish — including communication with the authorities.

Fishing rights and floating PV are not mutually exclusive. In practice, part of the water surface is used while the remaining area can still be fished. We advise you on how to work out a cooperative solution with your lease-holder — we’ve supported this several times already.

Team Assistant Germany

Vera Späth

Vera is employed as Team Assistant at the O&L Nexentury office in Eschbach (Germany).

She is responsible for all office and administrative tasks, as well as for office and administrative support for the German headquarters in Starnberg.

This includes all administrative and organizational activities as well as preparatory accounting. In addition, she plans and organizes travel activities for managers and employees at the German locations and organizes corporate and team events.

Office Manager

Nathalie Schröder

With Nathalie’s extensive experience in office management, she brings knowledge and insight to the running of our O&L Nexentury Namibia Office.

She heads the administration side of the Windhoek office and all day-to-day operations.

Nathalie is also involved in the administration of the various companies that form part of O&L Nexentury Green Energy Solutions. Her duties include but are not limited to, monthly invoicing, booking of flights for the Managing Director and marketing.

Team & Project Assistant

Jenna van der Wath

Within her role as a Team and Project Assistant, Jenna performs a variety of administrative and accounting tasks.

She provides support to managers and employees and assists in managing company’s general administrative activities, which includes but is not limited to, office procurement, travel management and preparatory accounting.

Jenna supports the project team further in all administrative and organizational matters and assists with project controlling.

With her dedication and proven ability to establish and maintain excellent communication, Jenna also provides administrative support in Marketing and Project Management.

Project Assistant Germany

Michaela Hilfinger

Michaela is Project Assistant at the O&L Nexentury office in Eschbach, Germany.

Her role involves providing support to the project team at various stages of commercial Solar PV projects in Germany. Michaela’s duties also include preparing project overview presentations and documentation for approval processes and project permits.

With a background in architecture and civil & structural engineering, Michaela has gained extensive experience in project management, working on various commercial and residential projects in Germany, South Africa, and Switzerland.

Accountant

Saima Iwata

Saima oversees and manages the accounting function of the group entities, which includes processing financial information, ensuring compliance with IFRS, reporting to corporate finance, compliance with tax authority, and managing the banking functions. She also provides support to the financial director.

Saima is a qualified chartered accountant with over seven years of experience in the finance and auditing sectors. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Accounting Sciences (CTA/Honors) as well as an Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences from the University of South Africa, and a Bachelor of Accounting Degree with a major in chartered accountancy from the Polytechnic of Namibia.

Junior Financial Analyst

Heather Meletzky

As a Junior Financial Analyst, Heather adds value to the Nexentury team through comprehensive financial support in all aspects of the project management chain, with a primary focus on extensive financial and investment analyses of renewable energy projects.

She collects, collates, and analyzes data in order to develop and optimize financial models/projections.

She has a background in corporate banking and project finance, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from Stellenbosch University.

Operations and Maintenance Technician

Eliaser Nikodemus

As an O&M Technician, Eliaser is accountable for overseeing the operations and maintenance of all existing projects.

Additionally, he offers support to the Technical Manager regarding new and upcoming projects.

Eliaser has prior experience …………… and holds an N3 level National Certificate and National Trade Diploma in Electrical General from the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT).

Draftsman

Lonwabo Ntshiba

As Junior Draftsman at O&L Nexentury SA (Pty) Ltd, Lonwabo supports our technical team and assists in O&M services, yield assessments and the drawing of PV plant layouts.

He holds a national diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and started his BTech in Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Africa. With previous trainings in Engineering at the Two Rivers Platinum Mine and the Grinaker-Ita Mining, Lonwabo has built his background in the renewable engineering and mining industry.

Technical Manager

Peter-John Christiane

As Project Manager for SADC region-based projects, Peter-John is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of project implementation.

His role also includes assisting in the engineering and design of plant during feasibility stage as well as overseeing of the operations and maintenance for existing solar plants under O&L Nexentury management.

Peter-John holds an MScEng degree from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa after which he gained his relevant industry experience through working in the renewable energy sector as well as working as a registered Professional Engineer for a Namibian-based Consulting Engineering firm.

Senior Project Advisor

Luc Tanoh

Bringing over 30 years of experience in the Telecom, IT, Power Utility and Engineering industries throughout Africa, US and Europe to O&L Nexentury, Luc is a highly regarded Senior Executive, GSM and Energy specialist, combining significant board-level experience with in the field regional and continental leadership roles .

As Head of West Africa, Luc is responsible for business and project development throughout West Africa and the Francophone regions of Africa. He holds a Master’s Degree of Sciences in Electrical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree of Sciences in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Berkeley in California

Technical Manager

Peter-John Christiane

As Project Manager for SADC region-based projects, Peter-John is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of project implementation.

His role also includes assisting in the engineering and design of plant during feasibility stage as well as overseeing of the operations and maintenance for existing solar plants under O&L Nexentury management.

Peter-John holds an MScEng degree from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa after which he gained his relevant industry experience through working in the renewable energy sector as well as working as a registered Professional Engineer for a Namibian-based Consulting Engineering firm.

Project Associate

Mladen Savic

Mladen is our Senior Financial Analyst and is responsible for project finance, financial modelling, project controlling and all other quantitative analyses surrounding our projects.

Mladen earned his Bachelor’s degree in the United States at Georgia State University, in the field of Economics and Finance. He moved to Germany in 2015 to pursue his Master’s degree at the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich. He joined the company in 2017 as a working student, where he was first exposed to the renewable energy sector and project finance.

He graduated from Ludwig-Maximilian University in 2018 with a Master of Science degree in the field of Economics. Mladen has since deepened his skillsets in the areas of project finance and financial modelling enabling him to grow into his current role at O&L Nexentury.

Senior Project Advisor

Luc Tanoh

Bringing over 30 years of experience in the Telecom, IT, Power Utility and Engineering industries throughout Africa, US and Europe to O&L Nexentury, Luc is a highly regarded Senior Executive, GSM and Energy specialist, combining significant board-level experience with in the field regional and continental leadership roles .

As Head of West Africa, Luc is responsible for business and project development throughout West Africa and the Francophone regions of Africa. He holds a Master’s Degree of Sciences in Electrical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree of Sciences in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Berkeley in California

Financial Director

Wilko Duvel

As head of our financial department, Wilko is responsible for the finance function at Nexentury Group.

Prior to joining O&L Nexentury, Wilko was the Head of Finance at Namibia Dairies. In this role he formed part of the senior leadership team for Namibia Dairies, and was therefore part of the strategic decision-making team affecting the long-term direction, actions and viability of the company as a whole. During his tenure at Namibia Dairies, he has successfully improved the workings, structure and compliance within the procurement department.

As a registered Chartered Accountant, he has audited companies within the insurance, agricultural, retail and manufacturing industries. Gaining international experience in a secondment to PWC Zürich, Switzerland has provided him with broad exposure and experience in the financial sector.

Technical Director

Dr. Georg Wirth

As head of our technical department, Georg is responsible for the coordination of the technical feasibility studies, engineering analyses and procurement as well as for the development of hybrid PV, Diesel and energy storage system designs.

Prior to joining O&L Nexentury, Georg led the photovoltaic grid integration team at the University of Applied Sciences Munich’s solar energy lab since 2010. During his four year stint, Georg managed a number of complex grid stability research projects outsourced to his lab by companies such as E.ON, General Electric, Siemens, and research institutions including the Technical University of Munich, DLR, and the Fraunhofer Institute.

Georg’s educational background started with a training at Siemens across the electrical engineering division. Georg achieved his Ph.D. Degree from the Carl von Ossietzky University at Oldenburg on modelling the meteorological effects of grid distribution physics under high photovoltaic penetration scenarios.

General Manager: Corporate & Finance

Sabrina Steinhauser

Sabrina heads our corporate team at O&L Nexentury. Committed to ensure a steady organizational development, Sabrina manages O&L Nexentury’s international subsidiaries and teams as well as the coordination of international projects.

She therefore directs the company group’s operations on a daily basis, including overseeing strategic execution in critical areas such as marketing, workforce development, project management, accounting, finance, and business administration. As a member of the board, Sabrina is involved in forward-thinking business stewardship and roadmaps.

Sabrina earned a M.A. in International Business with focus in Marketing from the University of Applied Science in Kufstein, Austria and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economical Geography from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich.

Executive Director

Nkosi Ncube

Nkosi serves as O&L Nexentury South Africa’s Executive Director.

He gathered extensive experience in the sourcing and implementation of financial transactions while working for financial institutions and specialist advisory boutiques including Old Mutual Specialised Finance, Nedbank and Basis Points Capital.

Prior to his directorship at O&L Nexentury, Nkosi was a co-Director at SOLEA Renewables (Pty) Ltd (SA), a subsidiary of SOLEA Capital. Nkosi has gained years on domestic development and project execution experience in the renewable energy sector and continues to drive new project development opportunities for O&L Nexentury.

As Executive Director of O&L Nexentury’s South African Team, Nkosi is responsible for the organization of the corporate management, project coordination as well as financing in our South African subsidiary.

Managing Director

Steffen Kammerer

Besides his general management focus, our Managing Director Steffen is responsible for transaction- and project management, project financing and structuring of energy projects worldwide.

The business lawyer with degrees from the HFWU Nürtingen and the University of Economics Bratislava started his career at the international consulting company Ernst & Young in the area of mergers & acquisitions with a specialization in financial and advisory services to banks.

For an international investment company Steffen further actively led a considerable number of transactions and financing deals in the field of renewable energies.

In his previous role as Co-Founder and Director of SOLEA Capital GmbH, Steffen successfully managed the international expansion of the SOLEA group into Africa and Australia.

Managing Director

Bernd Walbaum

Bernd graduated with his Master’s Degree in Business/Managerial Economics at the University of Hamburg in 1980.

After working in the printing and media business as Sales and Marketing Director and Managing Director in Germany, Great Britain and USA and later as Management Consultant for Ernst & Young, he then served as Managing Director at Helion Solar, Germany and Solsquare, South Africa for five years.

As from 2012, Bernd Walbaum is the Chief Executive Officer of O&L Energy and since August 2020 also Group Managing Director of O&L Nexentury GmbH.

Managing Director 

Rollie Armstrong

As one of our Managing Directors, Rollie is focused on developing and implementing growth opportunities in the rapidly evolving market of renewable energies.

As co-founder and managing director of Nexentury GmbH, Rollie successfully developed, built, operated and transferred PV projects throughout Europe and South Africa.

As the responsible manager of a Munich based private equity group, Rollie profitably executed investments in the renewable energy sector. Further, Rollie spent six years with Ernst & Young Germany as a Corporate Finance and M&A Manager.

Rollie earned an MBA in Corporate Finance from Northeastern University in Boston and holds an undergraduate degree (B.Sc.) in Financial Services from UNLV, in Nevada.

Executive Management:

Sven Thieme (Chairman)

Sven Thieme completed his secondary education at Deutsche Hohere Privatschule Windhoek and obtained the German Abitur in 1987.

He later graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 1991, with a degree in auditing, and completed his articles at Deloitte & Touche.

After his grandfather and the CEO of Ohlthaver & List, Werner List, passed away, Sven Thieme took over in 2002.

He had been working at the company since 1998 and served as the general manager from 2001 to 2002.

Additionally, Thieme serves on several supervisory boards of subsidiaries. Before joining the company, he worked as an auditor for Deloitte & Touche in Luxembourg from 1994 to 1998.

In 2004, he was responsible for establishing the Development Bank of Namibia, and in 2010, he served on the Supervisory Board of the public broadcaster, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship by the International University of Management (IUM) in 2019.

Thieme has played a significant role in supporting and uplifting Namibian businesses; and, promoting economic development and fostering cooperation between the public and private sectors through his role as President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) following his appointment in 2014 for three consecutive terms until 2020.

Thieme was conferred the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia: First Class on Heroes’ Day 2014 by the Head of State of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Hage G. Geingob, and is considered one of the most influential people in Namibia.

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