The Solar Power Portal and Energy Storage News Awards 2018 is now just a matter of weeks away and our respective shortlists have been made public.

More than 70 projects and companies have been shortlisted across this year’s 15 public categories, with the winners set to be crowned during the gala dinner ceremony at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham on Wednesday 17 October 2018. 

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by esteemed architect and TV personality George Clarke, with around 600 industry professionals set to attend.

As we countdown to the ceremony, Solar Power Portal is to shine the spotlight on this year’s shortlisted nominations, and today we look at the Transaction of the Year category, sponsored by Envirotech.

The shortlisted entries are;

  • SunnySide-1 Canadian Solar UK Portfolio Sale – Canadian Solar
  • Lightsource and BP partnership – Lightsource BP
  • Octopus 522MW Solar Portfolio Refinancing – Octopus Energy

When Octopus Energy Investments refinanced a 522MW portfolio of UK assets earlier this year, replacing a previous £400 million bridge facility with a new, £484 million medium tenor senior secured financing package, it was the largest of its kind in the European solar sector.

Octopus said the transaction was structured as a non-recourse portfolio financing to allow for greater flexibility, including the ability to incur additional debt and pursue additional acquisitions and divestments in the future.

But will Octopus’ mammoth refinancing package be enough to fend off some intense competition? All will be revealed at the Solar Power Portal and Energy Storage News Awards 2018.

Tickets for the ceremony are available to purchase now, and include full access to the pre-ceremony drinks reception, black tie gala dinner, awards ceremony and evening entertainment. Tickets and table packages can be purchased online here or by contacting Sue Bradshaw.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available and include a VIP table for the evening. If you are interested in sponsoring a category at this year’s award, please contact our marketing team