Nippon Renewable Energy secures further funds for Japanese solar market

ntttttttttttt

Nippon Renewable Energy KK (NRE) on Monday announced the successful closing of a 26.1 billion yen equity raising into Japan Solar, to fund Japanese solar generation facilities managed and operated by NRE.

NRE is positioned to be one of Japan’s largest independent solar generation utilities, with experienced local engineering, design, development and project management staff located in Tokyo. Through its relationship with Japan Solar, NRE has sufficient capital to progress with projects on an all-equity basis if required.

NRE currently owns and is developing a pipeline of over 300MW of Japanese solar projects, which will be financed with Japan Solar. Four projects in Oita, Hyogo, Hiroshima and Aomori prefectures totalling 47.5MW have been contracted and will commence construction having completed financing and construction documentation. These projects are expected to be followed by a further 110MW of projects during 2014.

NRE develops each project based on the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI) fixed-priced feed-in-tariff regime, under 20 year power purchase agreements.

NRE Director Shoichi Kaneda, said, “Each NRE solar project involves the support of local construction contractors and Japanese utilities, creating sustainable employment in Japanese rural areas and important local community development. We are proud to be supporting the future development of Japan in an environmentally responsible manner.”

The capital raising was co-led by Equis Funds Group and Partners Group and involved the Equis Asia Fund and Equis co-investors Babson Capital, LGsuper and Qantas Superannuation.

David Russell, CEO and Partner at Equis Funds Group, noted “We are pleased to support one of Japan’s most experienced independent solar utility teams. Being an early mover into Japanese renewable energy has resulted in a win-win-win relationship for Japanese communities, the Japanese government and investors.“

Benjamin Haan, Managing Director and Head of Private Infrastructure Asia-Pacific at Partners Group, commented: “We are excited to invest in the rapidly developing Japanese renewable energy market and to support the NRE management in filling the large power generation gap in Japan. We are confident of additional investment opportunities in the near term that will offer our clients the opportunity to further contribute to sustainable energy development in Japan.”