One of the biggest backers of Australian wind farms, French-based multinational Engie has announced a ???1.25 billion ($1.87 billion) green bond to support a greater push into renewable energy.
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This latest issuing brings the total of green bonds issued to ???5.25 billion since 2014.
Green bonds, also known as climate bonds, are a rapidly growing segment of financial instruments issued by companies keen to demonstrate their ethical and social responsibility credentials.
The proceeds of Engie's latest bond will be used to finance the French group's renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, in natural resources preservation projects, and its 'Rassembluers d'Energies' or Energy Rallyers project.
Rassembluers d'Energies is focused on developing sustainable energy access technology and combating energy poverty around the world.
The new bond will be issued in two tranches, one of five years and five months totalling ???500 million with a 0.375 per cent annual coupon, and an 11 years and five months tranche of ???750 million with an annual coupon of 1.375 per cent.
An additional third tranche of ???750 million, with a 20-year maturity and a coupon of 2 per cent, was also issued for general purposes.
Engie recently closed down the Hazelwood coal-fired power station in Victoria, a move which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said was a major contributor to the energy crisis.
Mr Turnbull said the closure of Hazelwood without a plan to replace the generated energy had increased gas demand and led, in part, to the forecast shortage.
Engie operates the Loy Yang B coal-fired power station in Victoria, the South Australian Pelican Point and Western Australia Kwinana gas-fired power stations, and the Canunda and Willogoleche wind farms in South Australia.
Loy Yang B has been a rumoured target for acquisition, with China Resources, Alinta Energy and Delta Electricity understood to have tabled bids for the brown coal power station, potentially expanding Delta into Victoria or giving Alinta a strong foothold in the east coast energy market.
Commenting on the rumours, an Engie spokesman said, "if the sale is to proceed, it would be announced by the end of the year".
