The company's current operations were established by Jim Clarke in 1989 and initially was a service provided for diesel engines. In 1995 Clarke Energy became distributor for Jenbacher Gas Engines. In 1998, from its original base in the UK Clarke Energy began to expand overseas. In 2002 GE acquired Jenbacher, the Austrian gas engine specialist company commencing Clarke Energy's status as an 'Authorized Distributor and Service provider' for GE. Clarke Energy helped develop some of the first projects as part of GE's Ecomagination initiative including a biogas projects in Punjab, India, and coal gas plants in Australia. Clarke Energy was acquired by US-based Kohler Co. in 2017.
Key events
1989 - Clarke Energy Established as an engine service company
1995 - Clarke Energy nominated as distributor for Jenbacher AG gas engine products in UK
1998 - Awarded distribution rights for Jenbacher in Australia, New Zealand and Nigeria
2003 - GE acquires Jenbacher AG. Clarke Energy acquires Cogen India, awarded distribution rights for Jenbacher in India
2004 - Clarke Energy acquires Jenbacher France, awarded distribution rights for France.
2005 - Clarke Energy awarded distribution rights for Jenbacher in Ireland. Previous distributor's contract cancelled.
2008 - Clarke Energy awarded distribution rights for Jenbacher in Tunisia
2011 - Clarke Energy awarded distribution rights for Jenbacher in Algeria
2012 - Clarke Energy awarded distribution rights for Jenbacher in Tanzania
2013 - Clarke Energy acquires Orient Energy Systems Bangladesh, Agaricus Trading and GE's South African Jenbacher gas engine service business. Awarded distribution rights for Bangladesh, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique
2017 - Clarke Energy is acquired by Kohler Co.
Affiliations and Achievements
Clarke Energy is a member of the Combined Heat and Power Association, the Renewable Energy Association and a founding member of Lord Redesdale's Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association Clarke Energy is also a multiple award winner of the British Safety Council's International Safety Award. Clarke Energy was named 'Business of the Year 2012' in the Knowsley Business Awards. In 2012 ECI Partners acquired a minority stake in Clarke Energy. In 2013 the company was awarded 'Export Champion' status by UK Trade and Investment. In 2014 the company was announced as a winner of the Queen's Award for Enterprise for having achieved 6 years' sustained growth. The company also won the 2014 British Renewable Energy Award for Innovation, and 'Business of the Year >250 employees' in the Regional Business Awards. The company was also a finalist in the British Renewable Energy Awards 2013 & 2014 and the Energy Awards 2013 It was awarded.