CEFC CEO highlights sector potential at Clean Energy Week

24 July 2013

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) will highlight the opportunity for Australian business and industry to benefit from investing in renewable and energy efficiency technologies at a Clean Energy Week panel discussion on Wednesday, July 24.

CEFC CEO Oliver Yates welcomed the opportunity to share with Clean Energy Week delegates the progress to date in establishing the CEFC and the ways in which it could benefit the growth of the sector.

"The CEFC has received a positive response from the market and is in active discussions with over 50 project proponents, involving CEFC finance of about $2 billion for $4.5 billion in projects spanning a full range of technologies and economic sectors nationwide," he said.

To date, the CEFC has been involved in two wind farm financing deals - Taralga Wind Farm in NSW refinancing for Macarthur Wind Farm in Victoria - and is working with the Commonwealth Bank to provide a $100 million program of Energy Efficient Loans to manufacturers.

Mr Yates and CEFC Chief Operating Officer Meg McDonald, who was the CEO of Low Carbon Australia before its integration into the CEFC earlier this year, will be among "Lunch with the Financiers" panellists at Clean Energy Week in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Chaired by the Clean Energy Council's Deputy Chief Executive Kane Thornton, the panel will also involve ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht and Southern Cross Venture Partners Investment Director Dr Mark Bonnar.

Delegates will hear about how funding and finance can be accessed to help accelerate the investment in and deployment of next generation clean energy technologies.

Hosted by the Clean Energy Council, Australia's peak industry body, Clean Energy Week is Australia's biggest event for the renewable energy and energy efficiency industry.

The event, from July 24 to 26, is expected to draw more than 2,500 Australian and international delegates to Brisbane.

Mr Yates urged businesses and financial institutions to visit the Clean Energy Finance Corporation's website at www.cefc.com.au to learn more about how the CEFC worked and what it had to offer.