Where we invest

Renewable energy

Australia is targeting a national renewable electricity target of 82 per cent by 2030 as a key step in the achievement of net zero emissions by 2050.

CEFC capital is playing a leading role in nurturing the development of large-scale renewables across Australia. Lifetime commitments of more than $7.4 billion to 31 December 2023 have backed 5.3 GW of new solar and wind generation capacity. These investments have also crowded in substantial private sector investment and supported the entry of new developers, contractors, suppliers and offtakers to the Australian market.

Increasingly, CEFC capital is backing renewable developments alongside energy storage and grid-balancing technologies, as well as early-stage projects. Large-scale solar and wind generation is critical to delivering the clean energy that will power our low emissions economy of the future. Renewable energy will also underpin the electrification of a vast range of existing commercial, industrial and residential activities, enable our electric vehicle transition and lay the foundations for our emerging green hydrogen industry.

Large-scale solar and the race to net zero emissions

This Investment Insight highlights some of the key market developments experienced in our first decade as a large-scale solar investor.

Believing in Australian renewables

Neoen Deputy CEO Romain Desrousseaux says he has always seen Australia as an attractive investment destination although he admits it hasn’t always been easy.

Read our article

Golden Plains – Bridge to Contracting

CEFC Head of Wind Joe Harber takes a close look at the importance of the financing model which has enabled the development of the Golden Plains Wind Farm in Victoria.

Read our reports

The Generator Operations Series

Read our series of analyses of the detailed operational data from utility-scale renewables on the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Report One: Large-scale Solar Operations

Report Two: Ramp Rates for Solar and Wind Generators on the NEM

Report Three: Negative pricing and bidding behaviour on the NEM

Report Four: Forecasts vs Actuals from the LSS projects

Report Five: Benchmarking large-scale solar PV performance in Australia

Report Six: Unlocking Curtailed Solar Energy on the NEM through Storage

Insights from the first wave of large-scale solar projects in Australia

Watch

Golden Plains Wind Farm: decarbonising our energy grid

Construction has started on the Golden Plains Wind Farm in Victoria, the first fully merchant wind farm in Australia to be financed by commercial lenders. The CEFC has committed up to $175 million to develop Stage 1 of the project. The development was named Asia Pacific Renewables Deal of the Year in the 2022 Project Finance International Awards.

Case study

Big battery boost for WA renewable energy future

Long duration storage has an important role to play in decarbonising the WA energy network and transitioning to a grid powered by renewable energy. Running from Kalbarri in the north to Albany in the south and Kalgoorlie in the east, the SWIS network is vital to a stable energy supply across this vast state.
Monique Miller
Chief Investment Officer – Renewables and Sustainable Finance, CEFC

Major Neoen projects drive critical minerals decarbonisation

The challenge of reducing emissions across the economy starts with the energy sector. The offtake agreement with BHP demonstrates how reducing energy emissions accelerates decarbonisation across the economy.
Ian Learmonth
CEO, CEFC

Powering Microsoft data centres with Walla Walla sunshine

FRV’s capabilities to deliver results in the Australian energy market will support our transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025 and beyond as we continue to innovate with capable counterparties to meet our goals.
Steven Worrall
Managing Director, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand

Golden Plains Wind Farm supports grid decarbonisation

We are delighted to work with the CEFC in our first investment in Australia. The CEFC’s ten years of experience developing Australia’s wind farm sector, combined with our deep expertise, enthusiasm, and commitment to this market, will bring long-term benefits to Australia, through clean energy generation, emissions reduction and economic opportunities.
Franck Woitiez
CEO, TagEnergy

Octopus Australia creates major renewables investment platform

… we saw early on the massive opportunity in Australia and how a portfolio approach to the market could align our institutional customers (in OASIS), alongside our family office and advised investors (in OREO) to create defensible and sustainable value into the future.
Sam Reynolds
Managing Director, Octopus Australia