Ørsted has signed an agreement to sell 50% of Walney Extension, a 659 megawatt (MW) UK offshore wind farm project to a consortium consisting of PKA and PFA, two Danish pension funds. Each investor will obtain a 25% ownership interest in the project. Walney Extension, which is currently under construction, will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when commissioned in the second half of 2018.

Ørsted will construct the wind farm under a full-scope EPC contract. Ørsted will also provide long-term operations and maintenance services from its O&M base in Barrow-in-Furness and provide a route to market for the power generation from Walney Extension.

Henrik Poulsen, CEO of Ørsted, says, “We’re delighted to welcome two Danish pension funds as co-owners of Walney Extension. We already have a strong partnership with PKA on three other offshore wind farms and we look forward to building an equally long-lasting relationship with PFA on what will be the world’s biggest wind farm when completed. Both partners are committed to the green energy transition and I’m pleased that our offshore wind assets continue to be attractive to institutional investors.”

The total sales price comprises the acquisition of a 50% ownership share and the commitment to fund 50% of the payments under the EPC contract for the entire wind farm (including the transmission assets), and amounts to approx. GBP 2.0bn, which will be paid during 2017 and 2018. We have hedged the GBP proceeds and these hedges currently have a market value of approximately DKK 2.0 billion.

The divestment fully confirms our expectations of the value creation in the project. The transaction price is another proof that the market shares Ørsted’s view regarding the value of its projects.

Following the farm down of 50% of Walney Extension, Ørsted increases its EBITDA guidance for 2017 from DKK 17-19 billion to DKK 19-21 billion. Although the farm-down was expected in 2017, the transaction has resulted in a higher share of the total EBITDA gain on Walney Extension to be realised in 2017. The gain on the share purchase agreement (SPA) is expected to be booked in Q4 2017 and make up more than 75% of the total expected EBITDA contribution from the transaction. The remaining part will be booked as EBITDA from construction contracts, of which we expect around 25% in 2017 and the remainder in 2018. Expected gross investments remain unchanged at DKK 18-20 billion.

The transaction is subject to approval by relevant competition authorities and is expected to be completed by Q4 2017.

Tags: Ørsted