SunEdison, a worldwide solar energy services provider and a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR), provided additional details on the solar project closings announced last week. The company closed three transactions involving approximately 98 megawatts (MWp) of photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Europe during the second quarter. The transactions include the sale of a 60MWp power plant in Bulgaria to a consortium of investors consisting of an affiliate of First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Fund, Crescent Capital and ACWA Power; a 13 MWp portfolio of projects in Italy to Eoxis; and a 25MWp power plant in Italy to an institutional investor.
Carlos Domenech, President of SunEdison, commented: "These transactions are a perfect example of SunEdison's continued ability to structure and execute complex transactions, while aligning world class investors who recognize the growing role solar plays in fulfilling today's energy needs worldwide."
Pancho Perez, General Manager of SunEdison for EMEA, Latin America and North Asia, said: "With a solid pipeline of projects in Europe, Latin America and Middle East, we will expand our collaboration with our project partners in the future, and continue SunEdison's growth worldwide."
Bulgaria: 60 MWp plant
SunEdison closed on a transaction involving a 60MWp photovoltaic power plant in Bulgaria with a consortium of investors comprised of an affiliate of First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Fund, Crescent Capital, a Turkish private equity firm focused on energy and backed by EBRD, EIB, and other institutional investors, and ACWA Power, the Saudi Arabia based developer, owner and operator of power generation and water desalination plants across the Middle East and Africa. NOMAC, a subsidiary of ACWA Power, and SunEdison entered into a long-term joint venture agreement to provide operation and maintenance services to the power plant.
The photovoltaic power plant, located in Karadzhalovo (a village in the municipality of Parvomay, Bulgaria) which was interconnected in March, was financed through a euro 155 million non-recourse debt financing arrangement with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Unicredit.
Italy: 13 MWp portfolio sold to Eoxis
SunEdison closed on a transaction involving a portfolio of 13 MWp PV projects in Italy with United Kingdom-based Eoxis. The portfolio consists of three projects located in the region of Campania, which were interconnected in late 2011. The assets will be monitored, maintained and operated by SunEdison under long-term agreements.
In a parallel transaction, SunEdison closed, jointly with Eoxis, the financing of two of the projects included in this portfolio, through a euro 24.9 million non-recourse, long-term senior debt facility with Centrobanca (UBI Banca Group), a Corporate and Investment Bank, with a well established project financing activity on the Italian Market. This facility was partly guaranteed by SACE, the insurance and financial group owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, which supports the development of domestic infrastructures and renewable energy sources. The financing agreement included an additional euro 1.7 million VAT facility.
Italy: 25 MWp plant
SunEdison closed on a transaction involving a 25 MWp photovoltaic plant located in Puglia, Italy, operating since the fourth quarter of 2011 with an institutional investor.
In the first full year of operation, the total portfolio is expected to generate sufficient energy to power over 33.000 homes in Italy and Bulgaria and avoid CO(2) emissions equivalent of removing more than 10.000 cars from the road every year.