King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has advised on the $350m financing of the 270MW Sapphire Wind Farm in northern NSW.

Once operational, the wind farm will supply the equivalent of approximately 116,000 houses with clean energy.

The KWM team led by Partner Claire Rogers advised the project lenders comprising Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, EKF Denmark and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Claire was supported by Partner Shannon Etwell, Senior Associates Chris Allfrey, Amy Munro and solicitors Sarah Gant and Priscilla Hejtmanek.

“Sapphire will have a positive impact on the local community, creating new jobs during construction and providing a clean, sustainable energy alternative for residents once completed. We are very pleased to have been able to leverage our extensive experience financing wind farms across Australia to support our clients on the successful closing of this significant project,” said Rogers.

Sapphire marks the latest in a series of renewables projects KWM has advised on following roles on the Ararat Wind Farm, Emu Downs and Badingarra Wind Farm and Glen Innes and Lincoln Gap Wind Farms. KWM’s renewables team also recently assisted QIC, on behalf of its clients the QIC Global Infrastructure Fund and the Future Fund, on the $A257 million acquisition of the 102 MW Nyngan and 53 MW Broken Hill solar plants which were the first acquisitions of the $3 billion Powering Australian Renewables Fund. KWM also advised on the establishment of Palisade’s Renewable Energy Fund which has a mandate to invest approximately A$500m in the Australian renewable energy market.