Press releases
Legal & General commits to its first clean energy investment in continental Europe.
Legal & General has committed €120m towards the refinancing of a Solar PV Portfolio in Spain that is owned and operated by Q-Energy
25 Feb 2020
LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General) announces that it has committed €120m, on behalf of LGAS, to the refinancing of one of Qualitas Energy’s (Q-Energy) solar photovoltaic (PV) portfolios consisting of 21 operational assets across Spain. The investment represents Legal & General’s first renewable energy transaction in continental Europe, seeing Legal & General partner with Q-Energy, a leading asset manager within the Spanish renewables market.
The investment forms part of a total €342m transaction, with additional investment coming from another institutional investor. The 21 solar plants generate clean energy sufficient to supply thousands of homes and have been operating successfully for a decade. The portfolio currently produces enough energy to supply over 70,400 households and avoid 75,400 tons of CO2 every year. The revenues are derived under a highly supportive regulatory framework that provides for long term stability of cash flows. This investment highlights Legal & General’s persistent commitment to ESG, as it continues to establish itself as global leader in this space.
With Europe legally required to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and have greenhouse gas emissions halved by 2030, investors must actively consider how they can help reduce emissions in some of the most carbon intensive industries- including real estate, energy, transportation and social infrastructure. Legal & General is looking beyond current legislation and practices, seeking to align its real asset portfolio with a science- based carbon performance target covering the period to 2030.
LGIM Real Assets was an early leader in sustainable investment, making it a core objective for the business in 2008. It was an early participant in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmarking (GRESB) initiative to benchmark sustainability performance. With the addition of this solar PV investment, LGIM Real Assets renewables portfolio now stands in excess of £1.1bn, enhancing the Group’s extensive renewables portfolio.
Tom Sumpster: "This is a landmark transaction for LGIM Real Assets as our first renewable energy investment in continental Europe. As we actively continue to diversify our assets and increase our global exposure, this investment forms part of our strategic focus on responsible investing. The renewable energy sector has become increasingly attractive for our long-term investments due to its secure returns in conjunction with a wider ESG significance.Across Legal & General, we are taking a proactive approach to ESG and it is crucial that we continue to invest in strong performing assets, where we also see prospects to drive value and offer secure returns."
Daniel Parejo: "This is another major investment for us in the Spanish renewable energy sector and we are delighted to work with LGIM to strengthen our presence in this important and thriving sector. LGIM impressed us with their flexibility and thorough understanding of the market."
About Q-Energy
Q-Energy is proud to have more than 120 employees based in Madrid and Berlin offices, and to have invested over €4.5bn in global renewable energy assets since its inception, including having raised more than €3.5bn of debt, either in bank debt or project bonds, and often pioneering the market with new structures. Our in-house Asset Management team of over 70 people currently manage over 1GW of European renewable assets, including the second largest Solar PV asset in Europe (Project Mula, 494 MWp, in Mucia Spain). These assets provide clean electricity to over 140,000 households and avoid carbon emissions of over 500,000 tCO2 per year.
Further information
Jessye Brandon
Senior PR Executive
LGIM Real Assets
T: 07584498775
Notes to editors
Established in 1836, Legal & General is one of the UK's leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with £1.2 trillion in total assets under management1 of which 40% is international. We have a unique and highly synergistic business model, which continues to drive strong returns. Legal & General provides powerful asset origination and management capabilities directly to clients, which also underpin our leading retirement and protection solutions. We are a leading international player in Pension Risk Transfer, in UK and US life insurance, and in UK workplace pensions and retirement income. Our purpose is to improve the lives of our customers and create value for our shareholders. Through inclusive capitalism, we are investing in long-term assets, such as real estate and infrastructure, that can help build a better society for the future.
1Data as at 31 December 2023.