CBA and Aussie renewables firm Edify Energy drives the clean energy sector forward
Commonwealth Bank is partnering with Australian renewables company Edify Energy to provide financing for two new solar farms – Daydream and Hayman solar farm.
Approximately two million solar panels will be installed north of Collinsville in Queensland, providing 200MW AC (240MW DC) of renewable energy capacity to the national electricity grid, enough to power an estimated 73,000 households. Both solar farms are expected to be operational by mid-2018.
Commonwealth Bank will provide around $130 million towards the two projects, as part of a syndicated debt facility involving the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and French bank Natixis. BlackRock Real Assets is providing equity towards both projects, on behalf of its clients.
The transaction marks the second time Commonwealth Bank has been a partner to Edify Energy, providing funding for a total of five large-scale solar farms in Australia. In March 2017, Commonwealth Bank, CEFC and Nord LB also funded Edify Energy’s Hamilton, Whitsunday and Gannawarra solar farms in Queensland and Victoria.
The five solar farms will provide a combined 365MW AC (440MW DC) of renewable energy capacity to the national electricity grid, making Edify Energy one of Australia’s largest independent renewable energy companies.
John Cole, Chief Executive of Edify Energy, said: “We are delighted to have closed another large utility scale solar PV financing with the Commonwealth Bank, who understands our business, supports our desire to build an integrated Australian clean energy company and has been integral to our growth and success.
