Small-scale CEFC a mean machine

Bernard Kellerman

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has provided an "investment update" on its activities in the 12 months to 30 June 2020, noting that almost A$1 billion in "recycled" funds flowed back that year.

Highlights from the 2019/20 year as outlined by the CEFC were:

• new investment commitments of more than $1 billion were made by CEFC, supporting 23 clean energy investments with a combined value of $4.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2020;
• total CEFC commitments since inception reached $8 billion by 30 June 2020;
• new investment commitments of just over $13 million in three cleantech innovators, as well as increased investment of $3.4 million in a further two Innovation Fund portfolio companies to accelerate their growth;
• more than $187 million in CEFC wholesale finance to support around 6,700 smaller-scale investments in clean energy projects, including in agribusiness, property and transport; and
• almost $942 million in CEFC finance recycled through repayments, sales and redemptions over the year, to be available for further investment by the CEFC.

"Over our lifetime, we have made almost 200 large-scale commitments, attracting an additional $2.30 in private sector finance for each $1 of CEFC finance committed," said CEO Ian Learmonth.

"Since inception we have seen more than $1.27 billion in CEFC finance invested in almost 18,000 smaller-scale projects, with our tailored low-cost asset finance programs delivered via our co-financiers," a lean list of banks.

Across 2019-20, CEFC deployed $937 million of capital, while total repayments reached $1.66 billion to 30 June 2020.