Macquarie Asset Management has introduced its new renewable energy business, Aula Energy, designed to attract long-term investment capital.
Aula Energy combines Macquarie’s 17-year renewable energy investment experience with a local team with expertise in developing and commercialising onshore renewables.
Aula Energy intends to build and expand a long-term business to satisfy future energy needs by originating, developing, constructing, and operating utility-scale wind, solar, and integrated batteries in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Chad Hymas will lead the company, bringing 20 years of experience in the energy industry, spanning strategy, growth, regulatory, operations, and finance.
“A powerful collaboration with partners will deliver on Aula Energy’s vision to be a leading green independent power producer in Australia and New Zealand that is trusted and committed to providing sustainable energy, energy for the future,” Hymas said.
“Key to Aula Energy’s approach will be the long-term sustainable development of these assets. We believe it’s through partnerships that we can have the most impact. That’s why we will prioritise long-term relationships and meaningful collaboration in developing our projects.”
According to Lachlan Creswell, head of Macquarie Asset Management’s specialist Green Investments team for Australia and New Zealand, Aula Energy will diversify and grow its onshore portfolio.
“Aula Energy offers Australian and international investors exposure to a unique and diversified portfolio at an important time for renewable energy markets in the region, in the context of increasing demand from commercial and industrial off-takers,” Creswell said.
“The Aula Energy team’s experience, and long-term partnership approach to the creation and management of renewable energy projects will be underpinned by access to long-term capital,” he added.
Aula Energy’s initial portfolio will have a total capacity of 4 GW of planned projects across Australia, with each asset having grid connection potential.
This includes the Boulder Creek Wind Farm in Queensland, scheduled to begin construction in 2024.
The initial portfolio includes several large-scale onshore wind farms in Western Australia totalling up to 2.4 GW, which are being developed in collaboration with Green Wind Renewables.
Aula Energy’s projected portfolio comprises projects in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, with more specifics to come as they progress.
Aula Energy’s business model involves the entire project lifecycle, continuously innovating and sourcing new projects to meet evolving customer needs, technologies, markets, and policies.
