Transaction marks Global Climate Transition strategy’s first investment in Asia-Pacific
Global investment firm KKR has announced the signing of definitive agreements under which funds managed by KKR will commit A$500 million to strategically partner with CleanPeak Energy to rapidly grow its distributed energy platform. KKR’s investment will support CleanPeak in growing and developing a pipeline of distributed solar, battery storage and micro-grid solutions for Australia’s commercial and industrial ('C&I') sector.
Co-founded by Philip Graham and Jon Hare in 2017, CleanPeak is a leading provider of fully financed, integrated solar-and-storage systems for blue-chip corporates across Australia. The company operates over 50 distributed generation sites across Australia including over 140MW of Solar Assets and 35MWH of Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) projects, and is currently delivering over $200m of construction projects in the sector.
'Australia’s C&I energy market is at an inflection point as corporates seek bankable pathways to better energy efficiency, reliability and affordability,' said Neil Arora, Partner and Head of KKR’s Climate Transition strategy for Asia. 'By combining CleanPeak’s proven operating platform with KKR’s global network, operational expertise, and deep experience across our energy and infrastructure teams, we are well positioned to unlock significant opportunities for corporate customers looking to decarbonise and reduce their energy bills.'
CleanPeak Chief Executive Philip Graham welcomed the strategic partnership, 'KKR is a perfect strategic partner for us as we seek to rapidly expand renewable energy solutions for our customers. They bring deep energy transition expertise, financial strength and a partnership mindset that will allow CleanPeak to continue to offer net zero solutions at the same time as accelerating our growth plans through bolt-on acquisitions. Together, we will deliver reliable, lower-carbon energy for corporate Australia.'
'CleanPeak’s distributed energy approach reduces network costs which make up a significant portion of the all-in cost of retail electricity and results in more competitive power prices for our customers,' said Jon Hare, CleanPeak’s Chief Operating Officer.
KKR is making this investment from its Global Climate Transition strategy. This investment marks the strategy’s first in Asia-Pacific and its sixth transaction globally, underscoring KKR’s conviction in the energy-transition opportunity set. Since 2010, KKR has committed more than US$34 billion in climate and environmental sustainability investments. Past investments have included Zenobe, a UK-based transport electrification and battery storage solutions specialist; EGC, an energy service provider in Germany; Dawsongroup, an independent asset leasing business which provides a diverse range of business-critical solutions; Avantus, a solar and solar-plus-storage developer in the US; and IGNIS P2X, an industrial decarbonisation platform.
The transaction is expected to close in H2 2025, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Source: KKR
