Rönesans Protects the Netherlands from Flooding for 100 Years
Through its Dutch subsidiary Ballast Nedam, acquired in 2015, Rönesans Holding is making a mark in Europe with exceptional sustainable projects. One of these is the 'Rijnkade Dike Reinforcement' in the Arnhem region, a project that, upon completion in 2025, will protect the city from flooding for the next 100 years.Ranked among Europe's top 10 largest contractors, Rönesans Holding is making notable progress in green projects across Europe through Ballast Nedam, one of the Netherlands' most established companies, acquired in 2015. “More than 50% of our revenue comes from international markets,” says İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp, chair of the Rönesans Holding’s board.. “Ballast Nedam, our largest subsidiary in Europe, accounts for approximately one-third of our consolidated revenue and serves as the key driver of our determined and sustainability-focused growth story in Europe.”
Focused on building systems resilient to the climate crisis.
“The world has changed, and in this new order, global partnerships are the most crucial factor for competitiveness, both for companies and nations,” explains Kayaalp. “We collaborate with esteemed multinational partners, including IFC, Meridiam, Samsung, and TotalEnergies. Since 2015, we have consistently ranked among the world's 50 largest contractors and are proudly positioned in the top 10 across Europe. Today, we operate in 33 countries. To date, we have completed €40 billion worth of projects abroad and invested these resources in our country. So far, we have successfully completed investment projects in Türkiye worth a total of €8 billion, provided approximately €2 billion in direct foreign investment, and secured around €4 billion in foreign financing. Over the next five years, we expect our total investments in Türkiye to exceed €12 billion, with direct foreign investment reaching €2.5 billion and foreign financing approaching €7 billion.”Kayaalp notes that Rönesans's vision for European expansion dates back many years. Firstly, Rönesans acquired a 10% stake in the Austrian construction company PORR in 2009. In 2013, the company purchased a subsidiary of Alpine Bau Group in Switzerland, responsible for building Europe's longest tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. In 2014, the company acquired Heitkamp, one of Germany's most established construction firms, followed by the acquisition of Ballast Nedam in 2015. Within three years, Rönesans transformed Ballast Nedam, a company with over 100 years of history in infrastructure, superstructure, and industrial projects, into a highly profitable enterprise.
Highlighting Rönesans's commitment to driving sustainable transformations in vital sectors like energy, water, housing, transportation, and industry, Kayaalp states, “We are focused on building climate-resilient systems based on clean and renewable energy sources. Our sustainability vision includes achieving 100% carbon neutrality on our construction sites by 2030 and energy-neutral construction by 2040. Ballast Nedam is an important player in bringing these objectives to Europe and amplifying the Rönesans impact globally.”
One of Ballast Nedam's landmark initiatives is the 'Rijnkade Dike Reinforcement' project. Aiming to protect the Netherlands from flooding, over 1,500 kilometres of dikes are currently being reinforced; among these is the 1.2-kilometre Rijnkade dike in Arnhem, which, once completed in 2025, will provide protection against flooding for the next 100 years.
One of the Most Sustainable Buildings in the Netherlands: Jonas
Located in Amsterdam's IJburg Bay, Jonas is a standout example of Ballast Nedam's commitment to sustainable and futuristic real estate investments. Spanning 29,950 square meters, the Jonas Project comprises 273 apartments designed with a strong focus on sustainability, incorporating environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient solutions. Its features include an impressive zinc facade, responsibly sourced FSC-certified wood, and eco-friendly 'green' concrete made from recycled cement. Additionally, construction waste was separated into seven recyclable streams, achieving a recycling rate of 97%. Jonas received BREEAM Excellent design, delivery, and operational certifications in 2023, making it not only an architectural beacon for IJburg but also one of the most sustainable buildings in the Netherlands.
$350 Million Sustainable Eurobond Issuance
İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp stated, “Thanks to Ballast Nedam's contributions to our group in the field of sustainability, we successfully issued a $350 million Sustainable Eurobond last month. This issuance marks a first in our sector in Türkiye. The funds raised through the Eurobond will be used to support sustainable projects.”Land-Based Solution on Water: Windplanblauw
One of Ballast Nedam's pioneering and climate-friendly green energy projects is Windplanblauw. Completed between 2021 and 2023, the project replaced 28 outdated wind turbines with 24 advanced, high-capacity models. These land-based turbines were installed on water using an innovative approach, combining the upper part of a conventional land foundation with the lower part of a marine foundation, reinforced by the construction of waterproof walls. Each wind turbine generates approximately 6 megawatts of power, producing an additional 5.4 megawatts compared to the older conventional turbines.
Source: Didem Eryar Ünlü / Nasıl Bir Ekonomi