New Energy Solar (NEW) has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Manildra Solar Farm (Manildra) from a subsidiary of First Solar Inc.
Using First Solar’s advanced thin film photovoltaic solar modules, Manildra is already operating and delivering electricity into the National Electricity Market. Once full commercial operation is achieved, the plant will sell power and Large Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) to EnergyAustralia, the third largest electricity retailer in Australia servicing more than 1.7 million customers.
John Martin, CEO of NEW said, “Acquiring Manildra is another impressive growth milestone for New Energy Solar. We have now added a very high-quality, operational asset in Australia to our existing portfolio of 20 power plants in the United States. With some of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, Australia has enormous renewable energy potential and Manildra gives us a strong foothold here.
“As we approach $1 billion of portfolio value, there is no doubt that our expertise in selecting and financing these assets is becoming more recognised, and we are delighted to be consolidating our relationship with First Solar through the acquisition of Manildra. Our relationships with solar technology providers, developers, contractors, electricity buyers, and financiers position us well in the global transition to renewable energy.”
New Energy Solar has also announced that it has entered into binding agreements with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) for the establishment of a new $50 million acquisition facility (the Facility).
CEFC CEO, Ian Learmonth, said, “New Energy Solar’s plans to expand its portfolio with Australian solar farms such as Manildra is great news for investors and for large-scale solar in Australia. By working with New Energy Solar we’re looking to catalyse further private investment that supports the sector and contributes to the on-going decarbonisation of Australia’s electricity network.”
Manildra, in Central West NSW, will sell electricity under a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an option to extend to December 2030. The acquisition is based on an enterprise value of approximately $113 million (excluding transaction costs and stamp duty), with a target unlevered five-year annual average gross yield of 7.6 per cent per annum compared to the current gross annualised yield on NEW’s existing operating portfolio of approximately 6.6 per cent per annum. The project yield is expected to grow with underlying price escalation in the PPA.
New Energy Solar’s Head of Investments, Liam Thomas, said, “Manildra reflects the very disciplined approach we have taken to acquiring all of our assets. It is an operational plant with a long-term offtake agreement to a creditworthy counterparty, and as such, it is consistent with our investment strategy and complementary to our existing US portfolio. It also has the added benefit of strong cash yields. When combined with our other acquisitions since listing in late 2017, New Energy Solar has assembled a high-quality portfolio of 21 contracted projects across the US and Australia – making it the largest ASX-listed investor in solar generation.”
Subject to the satisfaction of conditions precedent customary for a transaction of this nature, NEW will acquire Manildra on a levered basis, funded with cash reserves, existing and new debt facilities. The project’s construction debt facility provided by Société Générale and MUFG Bank will convert to a term facility at completion, with the underlying interest rate 75 per cent hedged throughout the initial debt term, reducing exposure to future movements in domestic interest rates. Once completed, NEW’s gearing will move toward the target long-term gearing ratio of 50 per cent.
Constructed by RCR O’Donnell Griffin, one of Australia’s oldest and most experienced engineering and infrastructure construction providers, the plant is expected to generate more than 118,000 mW hours of electricity annually. This is equivalent to displacing more than 91,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum, powering 14,000 average NSW homes, or removing 24,000 cars from the road.
First Solar Energy Services will provide operations, maintenance and asset management services to the project under long-term contracts.
Once the Manildra transaction is complete and NEW’s committed and in-construction assets in the US are operational, NEW’s portfolio will comprise interests in over 730MWDC of operating solar projects across the US and Australia with a weighted average PPA term of 17 years.
NEW’s contribution to producing emissions free electricity continues to grow with the total portfolio expected to generate more than 1,500,000 megawatt hours of electricity annually. This is equivalent to displacing more than 986,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, powering 170,000 US and Australian equivalent homes, or removing 237,000 US and Australian equivalent cars from the road, every year.
