California bond deal, Scottish pumped storage, and Australian battery project advance

Clean Power Alliance closed a $1.4 billion renewable-energy prepayment bond transaction expected to save about $91.1 million over seven years, linked to 440.8 MW of wind generation. Foresight Group invested in Gilkes Energy’s 1.8 GW/40 GWh Earba pumped-storage hydropower project in the Scottish Highlands. ENGIE reached financial close on the 150 MW/300 MWh second phase of its Hazelwood battery storage facility in Victoria, Australia.

Clean Power Alliance’s bond financing is tied to existing wind contracts covering 440.8 MW and is expected to supply about 1.14 million MWh yearly. JPMorgan acted as underwriter and prepaid energy supplier; the bonds carry an Aa3 rating. The provider says prior prepayment deals total $8.3 billion and $519.1 million in contracted savings, serving roughly three million people in 38 California communities.

Foresight’s investment in Gilkes Energy’s Earba project, made through Foresight Energy Infrastructure Partners II, will fund engineering, procurement preparation, site work and construction planning. The Scottish Highlands scheme has planning approval and provisional selection under a UK long-duration storage framework. ENGIE’s Hazelwood phase two will sit beside a 2023 battery at the former coal plant; Sungrow and Elecnor are contractors.

Count words? First para: Clean(1) Power2 Alliance’s3 bond4 financing5 is6 tied7 to8 existing9 wind10 contracts11 covering12 440.8(13) MW14 and15 is16 expected17 to18 supply19 about20 1.14(21) million22 MWh23 yearly24. JPMorgan25 acted26 as27 underwriter28 and29 prepaid30 energy31 supplier32; the33 bonds34 carry35 an36 Aa3(37) rating38. The39 provider40 says41 prior42 prepayment43 deals44 total45 $8.3(46) billion47 and48 $519.1(49) million50 in51 contracted52 savings53, serving54 roughly55 three56 million57 people58 in59 38(60) California61 communities62. Second: Foresight’s1 investment2 in3 Gilkes4 Energy’s5 Earba6 project7, made8 through9