Solar+Storage
PR Newswire | January 04, 2024
BrightNight, the next generation and global renewable power producer built to deliver clean and dispatchable solutions, today announced the successful closing of a $375 million corporate credit facility. This significant financial milestone underscores the company's commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions that are safe, reliable, affordable, and clean.
The corporate credit facility will provide BrightNight with the necessary capital to execute on its U.S. project portfolio which includes solar, energy storage, and integrated technologies providing value-add renewable power solutions for its customers. This funding specifically will support equipment deposits, letters of credit, and project buildout. The credit facility is structured as a Green Loan in alignment with Green Loan principles.
"We are extremely pleased to announce the successful raise of this $375 million credit facility, a first for BrightNight," CEO Martin Hermann said. "This funding is more than just capital; it represents an important step in BrightNight's growth. It enables us to accelerate our projects, procure equipment at attractive terms, and deliver clean renewable power for our customers."
ING, Natixis CIB, and SMBC are the Coordinating Lead Arrangers and Green Loan Coordinators on the transaction. HSBC is a Joint Lead Arranger and Administrative Agent.
Latham and Watkins and PEI represented BrightNight in the transaction. Norton Rose Fulbright served as the Lender Counsel.
"I want to thank our supporting banks and advisors for their hard work and support in closing this facility," CFO Brian Boland said. "The quality of the bank group and final terms are a testament to the strength of our portfolio and differentiated approach to the development of renewable power projects."
ABOUT BRIGHTNIGHT
BrightNight is the first global renewable integrated power company designed to provide utility and commercial and industrial customers with clean, dispatchable renewable power solutions. BrightNight works with customers across the U.S. and Asia Pacific to design, develop, and operate safe, reliable, large-scale renewable power projects optimized to better manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy. Its deep customer engagement process, team of proven power experts, and industry-leading solutions enable customers to overcome challenging energy sustainability standards, rapidly changing grid dynamics, and the transition away from fossil fuel generation.
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Energy
PR Newswire | January 25, 2024
Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure LLC (GSI), one of the renewable energy subsidiaries of Libra Group, announced that Iyuhána Solar (Iyuhána), a GSI-led partnership with Saturn Power Inc. and Ocean Man First Nation, has been awarded a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to construct and operate a 100-megawatt (MWac) utility-scale solar facility in Saskatchewan, Canada. Developed in partnership with Ocean Man First Nation, the project will be one of Canada's top 10 solar facilities by size.
Under an exclusive PPA, the largest with a utility in Canada since 2015, Iyuhána plans to invest approximately $200 million (CDN) to construct the solar facility, which it will operate, supplying generated power to the principal municipal utility company, SaskPower, for 25 years. Located in the Rural Municipality of Estevan in southeast Saskatchewan, this emissions-free solar facility will produce enough power for the equivalent of approximately 25,000 homes.
"We are proud to bring the transformative power of solar energy to Saskatchewan by working with partners such as Ocean Man First Nation," said Mazen Turk, CEO of GSI. "This unique collaboration shows the power of renewable energy to harness resources and empower communities responsibly. This work is core to our ethos as a Libra company, and we look forward to continuing to help support a clean energy future across Canada and beyond."
As a founding partner, Ocean Man First Nation will have an ownership stake in Iyuhána Solar. Band members will also receive specialized training to maintain the solar facilities and employment opportunities with the project. Additionally, partnering with two of Saskatchewan's leading post-secondary academic institutions, Iyuhána will provide scholarships, internships, and direct research projects in clean energy to benefit the community.
"Our partnership with GSI and SaskPower will bring great opportunities for Ocean Man First Nation, including employment and revenue that will provide stability and sustainability for our Band," said Chief Connie Big Eagle, Ocean Man First Nation. "We are proud that this project, which is able to generate clean power, will be known as Iyuhána Solar, which, in Nakotah translates to 'everyone' or 'all of us.' This is derived from our Nakotah belief that everyone and everything is related and therefore we must care for each other."
While investment in renewable energy grows across Canada, Saskatchewan's clean power supply mix has predominantly consisted of hydro and wind. This is the first of many planned solar projects in the province; by 2035, SaskPower plans to support approximately 3000 MW of new renewable energy capacity in the region.
"This new solar facility will play an important role in our path to net-zero by 2050 or sooner," said Rupen Pandya, SaskPower President and CEO. "We are proud of our ongoing collaboration with Indigenous peoples and the critical role they are playing in the successful expansion of renewable energy in our province."
GSI is one of four renewable energy subsidiaries of Libra Group, a privately owned, global business group that encompasses 20 businesses in six sectors, including renewable energy, maritime, aerospace and more. The Group's renewable energy portfolio encompasses approximately 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of projects owned, developed, or pending development in 10 countries, including solar, wind, battery storage, and waste-to energy projects. This is the second partnership with an indigenous community led by a Libra Group subsidiary.
"Libra Group is proud of this novel partnership, which has come together through shared values and a commitment to driving economic growth and positive outcomes for communities," said Libra Group's CEO Manos Kouligkas. "Sustainability is core to our global business, and we look forward to continuing to leverage synergies across our six sectors in 60 countries with agility and impact."
Last year, GSI acquired Saturn Power Inc.'s solar and battery development portfolios, including its team of seasoned developers and an approximate 1.4-gigawatt (GW) pipeline of early- to late-stage solar and energy storage projects. Today, GSI has a footprint across Canada and in 12 U.S. states.
About Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure
Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure (GSI) is one of the clean energy subsidiaries of Libra Group. GSI is a renewable energy company focused on the development, construction, and operation of distributed generation and utility-scale solar energy and battery storage projects in North America. As of January 2024, the company developed approximately 388 MW DC across 71 renewable energy projects, many of which are still owned or operated by GSI and have an additional project pipeline of 1.6 GW. GSI's seasoned team has a proven track record of investing in power assets and partnering with multiple top-tiered investors. For more information on Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure (GSI), visit: http://www.greenwoodinfra.com/
About Ocean Man First Nation
The Ocean Man First Nation is a Nakota, Cree, and Saulteaux Band Government in southeast Saskatchewan. OMFN is led by Chief Connie Big Eagle & Council and features a population of 565 members. Ocean Man First Nation created a renewable energy company in 2019 called Second Wind Power. The name Second Wind Power reflects Ocean Man First Nation's history of relocating, re-establishing and starting over as a new community since 1989.
About Libra Group
Libra Group is a privately owned, global business group encompassing 20 businesses predominately focused on aerospace, renewable energy, maritime, real estate, hospitality, and diversified investments. With assets and operations in nearly 60 countries, the Group applies the strength of its global network and capabilities to deliver cross-sector insights and growth at scale.
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Energy
PR Newswire | January 03, 2024
Advanced Power continues to show its commitment to advancing a sustainable energy future through its purchase of renewable energy investment tax credits (ITC). The credits were made available through the development of rooftop solar facilities offered for sale by a third party.
"Advancing a sustainable energy future drives our actions," said Advanced Power's CEO Tom Spang. "We are pleased to close this latest transaction, which supports our vision of a clean, reliable energy future."
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) made the transfer of renewable energy tax credits possible. The IRA aims to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and drive increased deployment of new, clean electricity resources. Section 6418 of the Internal Revenue Code allows for the transfer (sale) of certain renewable energy tax credits from renewable energy project developers to a qualified third party.
"Advanced Power is a developer, owner, and asset manager of modern power infrastructure and has now made a tax equity investment and completed a tax credit transfer transaction. We are positioned to execute similar transactions soon," added Spang.
Reunion, a technology-enabled finance company that helps guide corporate tax teams through the clean energy tax credit transaction process, originated the opportunity for Advanced Power and facilitated the transaction between the parties.
Advanced Power Focusing on Further U.S. Renewables Development
Advanced Power manages all aspects of an energy project's life cycle, including development, construction, financial structuring, and operations. A robust renewables pipeline across Desert Southwest, ERCOT, PJM, and MISO is underway. Late-stage projects in the pipeline include:
Eldora Energy – 240 MWdc solar with an additional 200MW/400MWh battery storage facility
Alina Energy – 220 MWdc solar with an additional 200MW/400MWh battery storage facility
Elio Energy – 300MW/600MWh battery storage facility
Rock Rose Energy – 200MW/400MWh battery storage facility
About Advanced Power
Advanced Power is a privately owned global developer, manager, and owner of modern power infrastructure. The company develops low-carbon and renewable electric generating projects as an independent power producer. Advanced Power's successes include 11 gigawatts in development or operations in the United States and Europe. The company has offices in Boston and Houston, with a registered office in Zug, Switzerland.
Founded in 2000, Advanced Power is focused on advancing a sustainable energy future, bringing reliable energy to places that need it, and providing economic benefits plus jobs to communities while making massive contributions to reducing CO2 emissions.
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