Media release: Clayton Utz advises Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners on landmark renewable energy project

The Gawara Baya project, located south-west of Ingham in North Queensland, is a hybrid 408 MW onshore wind farm and 104 MW battery energy storage system. Construction of the project is now underway, with full operations expected by 2030.

Clayton Utz's Head of Energy, Alexander Danne led the firm's team advising CIP on the transaction, which included development and project contract due diligence, and key advice on regulatory approvals. The supporting Clayton Utz project team was broad and primarily comprised of Energy M&A Partner Katy Warner, Head of ESD Claire Smith and Partner Megan Duane, together with senior associates Joshua Skyring, Rohit Venkat, and Chi Han Yeo, and lawyers Sumaia Aziz and Georgia Summerhill.

The Gawara Baya project is a major development for the Australian renewable energy sector. The project:

• Demonstrates strong wind projects can still be achieved: Wind farm investment in Australia has slowed in recent years due to rising costs and transmission delays. Gawara Baya is the largest wind farm on Australia's eastern seaboard to reach financial close since 2024.

• Marks a major international market expansion: CIP, a global leader in energy infrastructure fund management, has raised EUR 43 billion across 15 funds and operates in over 30 countries. This acquisition is a key step in CIP's expansion in the Australian market and reflects international confidence in local renewable energy investment despite local policy changes affecting international investors.

• Delivers scale and economic impact: With 408 MW of wind capacity, Gawara Baya will power up to 240,000 homes, inject millions into the regional Queensland economy, and create up to 500 jobs.

Commenting on the transaction, Alex Danne said:

The acquisition of Gawara Baya, a key wind project in Australia's energy transition is a significant milestone for CIP and for the Australian renewables sector at a time when new wind farm investment has been notably scarce. We were honoured to have supported Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners as project development and environmental counsel, in connection with CIP's acquisition of this exciting project.