Infigen Energy

Last updated

Iberdrola Australia Limited
Company type Sociedad Anónima
IndustryEnergy
Founded11 June 2003  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Headquarters
Australia  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Area served
Australia
ProductsElectricity
Website Iberdrola Australia

Iberdrola Australia (former Infigen Energy) [1] is a developer, owner and operator of renewable energy generation assets in Australia. The head office is located in Sydney, NSW, with other offices also located in Melbourne, VIC, and Brisbane, QLD. Iberdrola Australia (previously Infigen Energy) became a subsidiary of Iberdrola S.A. in 2020. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Iberdrola Australia’s fleet of renewable energy assets is among the largest in Australia. As of May 2024, Iberdrola Australia had a total capacity of 2.4GW. The company’s customers are located in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia in the National Electricity Market, and Western Australia in the South West Interconnected System.

History

Prior to its acquisition in 2020 by Spanish company Iberdrola, S.A., Iberdrola Australia operated as Infigen Energy (Infigen).

Infigen listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in October 2005 under the code BBW. When it joined the ASX, its portfolio comprised three wind farms with an installed capacity of approximately 150 megawatts. By 2007, Infigen’s portfolio grew to 33 wind farms with an installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts. As of 2007, it was the world's fourth largest owner of wind farms [6] and are Australia's biggest wind power supplier. [7] [8]

In 2009, Infigen changed its name from Babcock & Brown Wind Partners after branching out from troubled parent company Babcock & Brown. ASX code IFN.

In 2012, Infigen hosted its first fun run event, called “Run with the Wind”, at its Woodlawn Wind Farm. [9] The company’s second fun run in the following year was supported by the Greater Western Sydney Giants. [10] Both races were won by Olympian runner Martin Dent, and proceeds were donated to charity. Infigen hosted the fun run in the following years in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and 2018.

In 2013, the company collaborated with Danish wind turbines manufacturer Vestas on the wind energy campaign "Act on Facts". [11]

In 2015, Infigen joined the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Road to Paris climate commitments, also known as the We Mean Business coalition. In the same year, Infigen joined Australia’s CItySwitch Green Office program which was a partnership between businesses and local, state and federal governments working together to make a positive impact on climate change.

In 2015, Infigen joined the Carbon Disclosure Project's Road to Paris climate commitments, also known as the We Mean Business coalition. In the same year Infigen joined Australia's CitySwitch Green Office program, which is a partnership between businesses and local, state and federal governments working together to make a positive impact on climate change.

After the company’s annual general meeting on 17 November 2016, it was announced that Miles George, that managing director and CEO, would retire and Ross Rolfe would be appointed his successor. Miles George had been the managing director and CEO of Infigen since 2009. [12]

In 2017, Infigen announced the retirement of Mike Hutchinson as chairman of the board and appointment of non-executive director Len Gill in succession to Mr Hutchinson as chairman of the board. [13]

In June 2020 Credit Suisse launched an after-market takeover bid on Infigen Energy on behalf of UAC Energy. [14] A competing takeover offer was launched by Iberdrola. [15] The Iberdrola offer was ultimately successful, with UAC selling its stake to Iberdrola on 9 September 2020. [16]

The brand transition from Infigen to Iberdrola Australia was announced in June 2020, and took place in December 2020. On 1 June 2021, Infigen Energy was renamed Iberdrola Australia.

Operations

Iberdrola Australia’s portfolio comprises wind and solar farms, batteries and fast-start firming assets. All of the company’s wind farms are accredited by GreenPower.

Wind farms*

Wind FarmInstalled Capacity (MW)StateCommercial Operation Date
Lake Bonney 181SAMarch 2005
Walkaway89WAJuly 2006
Lake Bonney 2159SASeptember 2008
Capital141NSWJanuary 2010
Lake Bonney 339SAJuly 2010
Woodlawn48NSWOctober 2011
Bodangora113NSWFebruary 2019
Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park (PAREP)*210SASeptember 2022
Flyers Creek145NSWSeptember 2024

*PAREP is a hybrid wind and solar farm

Solar farms

Granjas SolaresInstalled Capacity (MW)StateCommercial Operation Date
PAREP107SASeptember 2022
Avonlie245NSWAugust 2023
Broadsound376QLDUnder construction

Contracted Renewable Energy Assets

Activo de Energía Renovable ContratadoInstalled Capacity (MW)StateContract Start Date
Cherry Tree58VICDecember 2018
Collector136^NSWMarch 2020

Firming Assets

Firming AssetInstalled Capacity (MW)StateAcquisition/Commercial Operation Date
Smithfield123NSWAcquired May 2019
Lake Bonney25SADecember 2019
Bolivar^^120SAFebruary 2023
Wallgrove^^50NSWOctober 2021
Broadsound180QLDUnder construction

^^Long-term lease

Sustainability Initiatives

Iberdrola Australia published its 2023 Sustainability Report in June 2024. It was the company’s first annual sustainability report as part of Iberdrola S.A.

The company aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and net positive biodiversity by 2030.

Iberdrola Australia is a signatory to Caring for Climate, UN Global Compact. [17]

References

  1. "Infigen no more: Iberdrola completes branding overhaul after takeover". Renew Economy. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  2. "ASX (Australian Securities Exchange) - Infigen announces Recommended Takeover Offer from Iberdrola" (PDF).
  3. "Infigen Energy pasa a llamarse Iberdrola Australia". Fundación Consejo España Australia (in Spanish). 2 June 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  4. Roca, José A. (2 June 2021). "Infigen Energy pasa a denominarse Iberdrola Australia a partir de ahora". El periódico de la energía. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  5. "Infigen Energy completes re-brand to Iberdrola Australia" (PDF).
  6. Johnston, Tim (31 May 2007). "Australian investment fund rides the win". The New York Times . Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  7. "Australia's small-scale green energy installations reach 2 million". upi.com. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  8. McGrath, Pat (9 January 2014). "Renewable energy companies want certainty about review timeline". abc.net.au. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  9. "Run with the wind - Off Track". abc.net.au. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  10. "600 runners enter Run With The Wind". goulburnpost.com. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  11. "Vestas launches Act on Facts campaign in battle against anti-wind movement, says "Don't let myths dictate our future"". vestas.com. 11 June 2013. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  12. "Managing Director and Chief Executive Office Succession" (PDF). infigen.com. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  13. "Board Succession" (PDF). infigen.com. 29 December 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  14. Thompson, Sarah; Macdonald, Anthony; Boyd, Tim (2 June 2020). "Credit Suisse in Infigen Energy raid, $1.2b takeover bid pending". Australian Financial Review .
  15. "Renewables M&A: Iberdrola Offers €510 million for Australia's Infigen". ESG Today. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  16. Chong, Florence (10 September 2020). "Iberdrola to complete Infigen takeover as rival bidder UAC bows out". IPE Real Assets. IPE International Publishers . Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  17. "United Nations Global Compact - Iberdrola Australia".