CEFC annual report glowing with ‘prudent investment’ – pv magazine Australia

October 21, 2020Bella Peacock

Buoyed by “sturdy efficiency,” the Clear Power Finance Company (CEFC) has spurred virtually $30 million in clear vitality funding since its inception in 2012, in accordance with the inexperienced financial institution’s annual report. This contains financing initiatives which have delivered 2.9 GW of renewable vitality capability to the Australian grid throughout 24 photo voltaic farms and 9 wind farms.

Because the CEFC started investing eight years in the past, it has financed 31 utility scale photo voltaic initiatives and 12 wind farms. Two of their photo voltaic initiatives, the troubled Oakey II photo voltaic farm in Queensland, the Numurkah photo voltaic farm in Victoria, achieved first technology in FY19-20.

The inexperienced financial institution mentioned it’ll prioritise funding in modern expertise and finance options to additional speed up emissions discount in future. This contains measures to ship a stronger, cleaner electrical energy grid, investing in massive scale vitality storage options in addition to backing alternatives in hydrogen.

Among the many funding highlights famous within the report was a 50% enhance within the capability of Australia’s largest battery in Hornsdale, South Australia.

Within the final monetary 12 months alone, the CEFC revamped $1 billion of funding commitments with with a mixed worth of $four.2 billion, concentrating on multiple million tons of carbon abatement yearly. As of June 30, 2020, the CEFC lifetime funding commitments reached $eight.2 billion, with the lifetime worth of these investments over $27 billion.

Coupled with the assist of the non-public sector in addition to authorities companies, the CEFC says its investments have supported “substantial” value reductions in photo voltaic applied sciences, a development they see persevering with.

CEO Ian Learmonth mentioned the annual report offered compelling proof of the potential for Australia to attain a low emissions economic system, capitalising on modern expertise and funding options.

“For the 12 months forward, we’re centered on investing in a safe, reasonably priced and sustainable vitality system, to extend the share of renewable vitality in a modernised electrical energy grid. We’re additionally dedicated to backing alternatives in vitality storage in batteries, digital energy crops and pumped hydro,” Mr Learmonth mentioned in an announcement.

Regardless of the disruption of Covid-19, the CEFC continued a powerful monetary efficiency with virtually $942 million repaid or recouped, alongside income of $205 million and a normalised surplus from operations of over $100 million.

CEFC Chair Steven Skala AO mentioned the difficult financial situations of the previous 12 months have reaffirmed the company’s dedication to “prudent funding.”

“Since inception, sound monetary administration has been an indicator of CEFC operations, pushed by the acknowledgement that it invests on behalf of Australian taxpayers, with a accountability to fulfill agreed coverage goals and ship a constructive monetary return,” Skala mentioned in an announcement.

This recommitment to “prudent funding” comes after the federal authorities in September introduced a plan to siphon funds from the inexperienced financial institution to prop up gasoline technology, sparking widespread outcry.