Natixis arranged the US$45 million financing for the construction of a 68MWp solar power project in Aguascalientes, Mexico, by Canadian Solar Inc, one of the world’s largest solar power companies.
As the region boosts some of the highest levels of solar irradiation in the world, the project is expected to meet electricity demand of approximately 60,000 local homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The construction of the project started in April and is expected to reach commercial operation in December 2018.
Canadian Solar and Natixis worked closely to conclude this transaction in less than two months, a very short time frame for a non-recourse project financing.
The transaction highlights Natixis' commitment to the climate and the energy transition. Among its recent initiatives, Natixis has introduced its Green Weighting Factor system for its financing deals to comply with Paris Agreement goals. The Green Weighting Factor is Natixis' capital allocation mechanism that aims to promote finance deals with a positive impact on both the climate and the environment, by adjusting the expected profitability threshold on these various transactions according to their effects on climate change.
