TNL Environmental Planning

What TNL Environmental Planning does

TNL Environmental Planning (legal entity TNL Energie GmbH) is a privately held German environmental consultancy founded in 1994 in Hungen, Hesse, and operating today through five offices (Hungen, Lich, Weiden i.d.Opf., Hannover, Buttenheim) with approximately 250 employees. The firm provides environmental impact assessments, species and habitat surveys, permitting documentation, ecological supervision, and nature-conservation planning for energy transition and infrastructure projects, with a client base that spans all four German transmission system operators (50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT, TransnetBW), major utilities (E.ON, RWE, Bayernwerk), wind developers (Energiekontor, Juwi, WPD), engineering consultancies (Arcadis, ERM), and federal/regional authorities.

The service portfolio is delivered on a project-based, multi-month consultancy basis via direct enterprise sales, with no channel or reseller model. Differentiated tools include the RKR-Modell (probabilistic bird collision risk model trained on millions of telemetry datasets, commercialized through the PredictBird GmbH joint venture), ReTainWater (digital water-retention planning tool developed under the BMBF-funded BauWaOpKliNu research project with Hochschule Coburg), and a GIS-based habitat potential analysis tool. Major project references include SuedLink, SuedOstLink, Rhein-Main-Link, and the Ostbayernring, alongside federal agency commissions from the Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN).

Revenue is generated through customized project engagements priced on scope; the company has scaled headcount from approximately 200 (2024) to roughly 250 (mid-2026). In June 2026, Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG) via its DBAG ECF IV fund became majority shareholder, with founder Frank Bernshausen and the management team retaining equity and operational leadership.

Name

TNL Environmental Planning

Legal name

TNL Energie GmbH

Website

https://tnl-umwelt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TNL Environmental Planning is a German environmental consultancy providing permitting, impact assessments, and species/habitat planning for energy transition and infrastructure projects. It serves all four German transmission system operators, major utilities, wind developers, and municipalities from five nationwide offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Planning & Permitting Consultancy

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Permitting Execution Services (Erosion Control, Habitat Mitigation, Compliance) (EUAEADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Onshore Wind Project Development & Permitting (EUAMACAA), Transmission Planning, Grid Expansion & Permitting (EUADAAAH), Offshore Wind & Marine Spatial Planning Regulation (EUAMANAM)

Keywords

• Environmental planning services
• Permitting consultancy
• Environmental impact assessments
• Nature conservation planning
• Infrastructure planning consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Hungen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Environmental Planning and Permitting Consultancy: Core professional services including environmental impact assessments, species/nature conservation planning, habitat mapping, noise studies, and permitting documentation for energy, transport, and infrastructure projects. Revenue is project-based, typically multi-month engagements with municipalities, TSOs, energy developers, and public authorities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TNL Environmental Planning is a Germany-wide network of environmental planning offices providing interdisciplinary environmental planning, permitting consultancy, and construction supervision for energy transition and infrastructure projects. Core offerings include environmental impact assessments, species and habitat surveys, Natura 2000/FFH evaluations, transmission line and wind farm permitting, flood protection and water retention planning, and ecological supervision for wind, solar, rail, and road projects.

Product overview

TNL Umweltplanung is an environmental planning services firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of interdisciplinary environmental planning and permitting consultancy services. The core services include wind power, solar, rail transport, grid construction, renaturation/flood protection, and road infrastructure planning. Key digital products include ReTainWater (water retention planning tool), the GIS-based Habitat Potential Analysis tool, and the RKR-Model (Spatial Use Collision Risk Model) developed through the PredictBird GmbH joint venture. The company also provides species protection assessments, Natura 2000 compatibility studies, ecological compensation account management, and construction monitoring services. Founded in 1994, the company operates from multiple German locations with approximately 250 employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReTainWater: Digitales Planungs- und Beratungstool zur Verbesserung des Wasserrückhalts.
• RKR-Modell (Raumnutzungs-Kollisionsrisikomodell)

Products and services

• Wind Power Environmental Planning Environmental planning and permitting consultancy for wind energy projects, including habitat assessments and wildlife protection measures for wind farm developers.
• Rail Transport Environmental Planning Environmental planning services for rail transport infrastructure projects, including ecological supervision during construction.
• Transmission & Grid Construction Environmental Planning Environmental planning and permitting for power transmission lines and grid infrastructure, including major projects such as SuedLink, SuedOstLink, Rhein-Main-Link, and Ostbayernring for German TSOs.
• Renaturation & Flood Protection Planning River restoration and flood protection planning services for climate-resilient water management for municipalities and public authorities.
• Solar Environmental Planning Environmental planning services for solar energy projects and solar farm development, including impact assessments and permitting support.
• Roads & Cycling Infrastructure Planning Environmental planning and impact assessments for road construction and cycling infrastructure projects for road authorities and municipalities.
• Land Use Concepts Sustainable land use planning concepts for climate-resilient multifunctional land use for municipalities and regional authorities.
• Ecological Compensation Accounts Management of ecological compensation accounts for biodiversity offsetting in development projects for project developers and municipalities.
• Specialist Nature Conservation Planning Specialized nature conservation planning services including species protection, fauna assessments, and FFH/Natura 2000 evaluations for infrastructure and development projects.
• ReTainWater Digital planning and consulting tool for improving water retention in landscapes using nature-based solutions; provides hotspot analysis and prioritized measures for flood prevention and drought resilience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed permitting for major energy transition projects including SuedLink, SuedOstLink, Rhein-Main-Link, and Ostbayernring (Section C, October 2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• PredictBird GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint venture formed by four environmental planning companies (TNL, TB Raab GmbH, Bionum GmbH, BioConsult SH GmbH & Co. KG) to commercialize the RKR-Modell (Raumnutzungs-Kollisionsrisikomodell). The venture uses AI and millions of bird telemetry datasets to predict fatality risk of large birds at wind turbines, enabling faster permitting for wind energy projects. Tied directly to TNL's TOP 100 Innovator award recognition.
• Hochschule CoburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Research partnership on BauWaOpKliNu (Baukastensystem für eine wasserwirtschaftlich optimierte, klimaresiliente, multifunktionale Flächennutzung), a DATI pilot project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). Develops a toolbox for decentralized water retention in landscapes, targeting climate resilience for municipalities. Pilot region: Regnitz-Aisch Alliance in Bavaria.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)coreOthersFederal ministry funding the BauWaOpKliNu research project through the Deutsche Agentur für Transfer und Innovation (DATI). Project runs until January 2026.
• Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNL (via Planungsgruppe Landespflege Hannover) commissioned by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation to evaluate large-scale nature conservation projects 'NSG Borgfelder Wümmewiesen und Fischerhuder Wümmeniederung' (~1,450 ha), assessing ecological outcomes and socio-economic impacts.
• Tree.lyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint presence at KWF-Tagung 2024 (world's largest forestry demonstration fair) to showcase TNL's SILVACONSULT Forest Carbon Standard-verified forest climate protection projects.
• Region Hannover / EXAM (Externes Ausbildungsmanagement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Region Hannover's external training management program to support TNL's transition to becoming a recognized apprenticeship employer (Ausbildungsbetrieb) for the first time in 2024-2025. Berater Jürgen Hansen provided guidance on training certification requirements.
• Regnitz-Aisch Allianz (municipal consortium)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal alliance serving as pilot region for the BauWaOpKliNu water retention research project. Member municipalities provide land for testing and validating the decentralized water retention approach.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis Germany: Global design and consultancy firm with a substantial German environmental planning practice (already listed as a TNL customer/partner). Comparable in delivering EIA, permitting and nature-conservation services, but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Sweco GmbH: European engineering and design consultancy with growing German environmental planning capabilities. Comparable in serving TSOs, utilities and public authorities with environmental and permitting services, though as part of a much larger pan-European platform.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global environmental consultancy with deep German presence (also a TNL customer/partner). Comparable in providing environmental planning, permitting and impact assessment services for energy and infrastructure clients.
• Ramboll Deutschland: Nordic-headquartered engineering, environment and health consultancy with a sizable German practice. Comparable in delivering environmental impact assessments, permitting, and nature-conservation services to energy and infrastructure clients across Northern Europe.

Direct peers

• KWS GmbH: German engineering and environmental planning group active in infrastructure, water and nature-conservation planning. Comparable in delivering permitting support for energy and transport projects in Germany.
• Froelich & Sporbeck GmbH & Co. KG: Long-established German environmental planning consultancy with a similar service portfolio (EIA, species protection, FFH assessments, landscape planning) and nationwide project footprint. Closest traditional mid-sized German peer in environmental planning.
• GICON Großmann Ingenieur Consult GmbH: German engineering consultancy with a significant environmental planning, permitting and renewable energy practice. Comparable in serving wind, transmission and infrastructure developers with environmental and engineering services.
• BioConsult SH GmbH & Co. KG: German environmental and species consultancy based in Husum that is a co-founder of the PredictBird GmbH joint venture alongside TNL. Directly comparable in size and focus on bird/wind permitting and ecological assessments.
• TB Raab GmbH: German environmental planning firm and PredictBird JV partner. Directly comparable specialist in environmental planning, ecological field surveys, and permitting support for infrastructure projects.
• Bionum GmbH: German biostatistics and environmental planning firm and PredictBird JV partner. Comparable niche profile in nature-conservation statistics, species modeling, and ornithological assessments relevant to wind permitting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TNL Environmental Planning