First private sector deal for UK Infrastructure Bank

 

 

 

First private sector deal for UK Infrastructure Bank

The UK Infrastructure Bank has today confirmed its first private sector deal, which helps catalyse NextEnergy Capital’s £500m subsidy-free solar fund.


The UK Infrastructure Bank has made its first private-sector transaction, which will help catalyse a new £500m fund with NextEnergy Capital that could double the amount of subsidy-free solar power in the UK.

The fund, NextPower UK ESG (NPUK ESG), is a private 10-year solar infrastructure fund which aims to raise £500m to invest into subsidy-free solar power plants in the UK. It will be the largest subsidy-free solar investment fund in the UK, managed by NextEnergy Capital (NEC) a global leader in the solar infrastructure sector. Once the fund is fully operational it will have an expected generation capacity of c.1 Gigawatt of power from around 30 solar farms across the UK. It will produce enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 136,000 households or offset 263,000 carbon-emitting cars on the road each year.

The UK Infrastructure Bank is providing financing to the initial seed assets of the fund comprising two major subsidy-free solar farms in the UK, and plans to invest up to £250m, half of the fund’s total target fund size, on a match-funding basis with the private sector. It is hoped that this support will lead to significant investment into the UK subsidy-free solar sector.

The Bank was launched in June to support infrastructure investment to help tackle climate change and boost regional and local economic growth across the UK. The investment marks a first private sector transaction for the Bank and a significant step in helping the UK government meet its net zero goals. The seed assets which are supported by the Bank are built and operational at sites in Llanwern in South Wales and Strensham, Worcestershire which together will have an installed capacity of 115MW.

Helen Whately MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury said:

“It’s great to see the UK Infrastructure Bank striking another deal, which will help power thousands of homes across the UK with clean energy and create green jobs. We are investing billions through the bank in important projects across the UK to drive growth and level up opportunities.”

Lee Waters, the Welsh Government's Deputy Minister for Climate Change, said:

"We welcome this commitment from the new UK Investment Bank to support solar energy - it is a key source of renewable energy we will need to help meet our net zero ambitions. It is crucial now that this support brings new investment to Wales and that any developments in Wales align to our policy priorities including securing greater economic, community and social value from renewable energy schemes.”

John Flint, CEO of UKIB, said:

“As this is the first deal for the UK Infrastructure Bank to leverage private sector investment, it is an important milestone for us. I am delighted that the Bank is able to play a role in the development of subsidy-free solar energy for the UK.”

Michael Bonte-Friedheim, CEO and Founding Partner of NextEnergy Capital, said:

“The launch of NextPower UK ESG marks an important milestone in bringing together capital from both the private and public sector to fund the next the phase of evolution in the UK solar PV sector.  Unsubsidised new-build solar projects represent an attractive investment opportunity, both in financial investment returns and in the pursuit of societal objectives such as addressing climate change and improving biodiversity in the UK. NextEnergy, the preeminent participant in the UK solar market, is uniquely placed to do this and we look forward to now executing upon NextPower UK ESG’s secured pipeline of projects.  This milestone is also a further recognition of the strength of the NEC platform."

Managing Director and Head of Investor Relations at NextEnergy Capital, Shane Swords said:

“We are delighted to be working alongside the UK Infrastructure Bank as we launch this Fund. It is incredibly rewarding to be raising capital to deploy into the UK solar sector that not only provides the institutional investment community with attractive risk-adjusted returns but also plays a meaningful role in supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions."

Information for investors:

NPUK ESG launched today by NextEnergy is a 10-year closed-ended fund.  The fund will be managed by NEC, and has access to its proprietary portfolio of unsubsidised solar projects in the UK.

Globally, NEC currently has solar assets under management of c.US$3bn, and has invested in over 325 individual solar plants.  In the UK NEC has significant experience as manager of the NextEnergy Solar Fund since 2014, a listed fund on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange with 99 assets, of which 91 in the UK.  NESF has a different investment strategy to NPUK ESG and predominantly targets subsidised operating solar plants and electricity storage projects in the UK and solar infrastructure assets in other OECD countries.

UK Infrastructure Bank

The UK Infrastructure Bank was announced as part of the Government’s National Infrastructure Strategy in 2020 and launched in June 2021. Its objectives are to help tackle climate change and to support regional and local economic growth. More detail is available in the UK Infrastructure Bank Policy Design Document and the Bank’s Framework Document both of which are on its website.

Further information on the UKIB is available at www.ukib.org.uk

NextEnergy Capital Group

NextEnergy Capital was founded in 2007 to become a leading investment manager in the solar sector.  Since its inception, it has been active in the development, construction and ownership of solar assets.  It currently has solar assets under management of c.US$2.9bn, across three investment vehicles.  To date, NEC has invested in over 325 individual solar plants for an installed capacity in excess of 1.2 GW.

NextEnergy Capital also manages three active investment vehicles: two private funds, NextPower III ESG and NextPower II, and one listed investment company, NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited. 

WiseEnergy® is NextEnergy Capital Groups active operating asset manager.  WiseEnergy is a leading specialist operating asset manager in the solar sector.  Since its founding, WiseEnergy has provided solar asset management, monitoring and technical due diligence services to over 1,300 utility-scale solar power plants with an installed capacity in excess of 2.2GW.  WiseEnergy clients comprise leading banks and equity financiers in the energy and infrastructure sector.

NextPower Development is NextEnergy Capital Groups development company that is active in the development phase of solar projects.  It has developed over 100 utility-scale projects internationally and continues to progress a large pipeline of c.2.5GW of both green and brownfield project developments across global geographies.

Further information on NEC, WiseEnergy and NESF is available at www.nextenergycapital.com, www.wise-energy.com and www.nextenergysolarfund.com.

For further information:

NextEnergy Capital Limited

  • Michael Bonte-Friedheim
  • Aldo Beolchini
  • Shane Swords
  • Peter Hamid

UK Infrastructure Bank

  • Miranda Roszkowski (Head of Communications)

-END-