Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corp. (CEFC) is planning to commit $100 million to the Australian infrastructure platform of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency in airports, electricity, port, rail and water sectors.
Almost half of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions come from infrastructure, said Ian Learmonth, CEO of CEFC, in a statement announcing the investment.
“Investors and asset managers are more aware than ever that cutting emissions requires timely action across the economy, especially in a sector as substantial as infrastructure,” he said. “There are a range of proven technologies and strategies that can cut emissions in Australia’s diverse transport and energy assets and improve productivity and energy consumption.”
According to CEFC, the investment is a follow-on to a previous investment in MIRA. In February 2018, the organization committed $100 million to MIRA’s agricultural platform to highlight the potential of energy efficiency and low emissions technology in Australian farming.
CEFC named a variety of technologies and measures that can help reduce emissions and energy use in infrastructure assets, such as solar photovoltaic installations at airports, offices, warehouses, depot facilities and wireless communications infrastructure sites, and replacing vehicle fleets with electric cars at airports.
Kieran Zubrinich, managing director at MIRA, said the investment from the CEFC will support decarbonization strategies across its Australian platform.
“The responsibility we have as custodians of assets Australians use every day is to ensure their long-term sustainability and resilience for the benefit of the communities they serve,” said Zubrinich.
