Clearway Energy, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

• Signed agreements with Clearway Group to commit to invest in a 147 MW battery energy storage system and a 160 MW wind farm
• Received offer from Clearway Group to invest in a 55 MW wind farm
• Updating 2023 financial guidance
• Raising Pro Forma CAFD Outlook
• Increasing the quarterly dividend by 2% to $0.3891 per share in the third quarter of 2023, or $1.5564 per share annualized
• Continue to target annual dividend per share growth in the upper range of 5% to 8% through 2026

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearway Energy, Inc. (: CWEN, CWEN.A) today reported second quarter 2023 financial results, including Net Income of $84 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $316 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $134 million, and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) of $137 million.

"As we disclosed in mid-July, historically low wind production in the second quarter negatively impacted the quarter's financial results. Given that first and second quarter’s results were impacted by weaker renewable resource, we are lowering our 2023 financial guidance,” said Christopher Sotos, Clearway Energy, Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite the 2023 guidance revision, our long-term outlook and visibility into achieving it remains on track as highlighted by this quarter's commitments to invest in the Rosamond Central battery storage project and Cedar Creek wind farm. The Company continues to have line of sight to the future deployment of the excess proceeds from the Thermal sale and expects to deliver at the upper range of its dividend growth target through 2026”

Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution used in this press release are non-GAAP measures and are explained in greater detail under “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below.

Overview of Financial and Operating Results

Segment Results

Table 1: Net Income/(Loss)

Table 2: Adjusted EBITDA

Table 3: Cash from Operating Activities and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD)

For the second quarter of 2023, the Company reported Net Income of $84 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $316 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $134 million, and CAFD of $137 million. Net Income decreased versus 2022 primarily due to a non-cash gain on the disposition of the Thermal business recorded in 2022. Adjusted EBITDA and Cash from Operating Activities results in the second quarter were lower than 2022 due to the disposition of the Thermal business, lower renewable production, and the expiration of certain tolling agreements in the Conventional fleet. CAFD results in the second quarter of 2023 were lower than 2022 primarily due to lower EBITDA partially offset by lower debt service from Conventional project-level maturities.

Operational Performance

Table 4: Selected Operating Results¹

In the second quarter of 2023, availability at the Conventional segment was higher than the second quarter of 2022 primarily due to the timing of spring outages between the first quarter and second quarter. Generation in the Renewables segment during the second quarter of 2023 was 10% lower than the second quarter of 2022 primarily due to lower wind resource partially offset by the contribution of growth investments.

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¹ Excludes equity method investments
² Generation sold excludes MWh that are reimbursable for economic curtailment

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Table 5: Liquidity

Total liquidity as of June 30, 2023, was $1,430 million, which was $64 million higher than as of December 31, 2022, primarily due to the refinancing of the revolving credit facility which increased its total capacity to $700 million from $495 million. This was partially offset by the execution of growth investments.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company's liquidity included $371 million of restricted cash. Restricted cash consists primarily of funds to satisfy the requirements of certain debt arrangements and funds held within the Company's projects that are restricted in their use. As of June 30, 2023, these restricted funds were comprised of $104 million designated to fund operating expenses, approximately $168 million designated for current debt service payments, and $85 million of reserves for debt service, performance obligations and other items including capital expenditures. The remaining $14 million is held in distribution reserve accounts.

Potential future sources of liquidity include excess operating cash flow, availability under the revolving credit facility, asset dispositions, and, subject to market conditions, new corporate debt and equity financings.

Growth Investments and Strategic Announcements

Offer to Invest in Dan's Mountain Wind

On August 4, 2023, Clearway Group offered the Company the opportunity to own 100% cash equity interest in a 55 MW wind project located in Allegany County, Maryland that is expected to reach commercial operations in the second half of 2024. The potential corporate capital commitment for the investment is expected to be approximately $77 million. The investment is subject to negotiation, both with Clearway Group and the review and approval by the Company’s Independent Directors.

Rosamond Central Battery Storage

On June 30, 2023, the Company, through an indirect subsidiary, acquired a 50% ownership interest in an entity that will facilitate and fund the construction of a 147 MW battery energy storage system, or BESS, located in Rosamond, California that is expected to achieve commercial operations in 2024. The BESS system will be co-located at the Rosamond Central solar facility that the Company currently has a 50% ownership interest in. The BESS project is underpinned by a 15-year resource adequacy contract with an investment grade load serving entity. Upon reaching certain milestones, the Company expects to invest a total of $32 million of corporate capital. The Company expects the project to contribute asset CAFD on a five-year average annual basis of approximately $3.5 million beginning January 1, 2025.

Cedar Creek Wind

On May 19, 2023, the Company, through an indirect subsidiary, entered into an agreement to acquire the Cedar Creek wind project, a 160 MW project located in Bingham County, Idaho, for $107 million in cash, subject to customary working capital adjustments. Upon achieving commercial operations, which is expected to occur in the first half of 2024, the project will sell its power under a 25-year PPA with a investment grade utility. The Company expects the project to contribute asset CAFD on a five-year average annual basis of approximately $10 million beginning January 1, 2025.

Quarterly Dividend

On August 7, 2023, Clearway Energy, Inc.’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on Class A and Class C common stock of $0.3891 per share payable on September 15, 2023, to stockholders of record as of September 1, 2023.

The Company anticipates that a portion of the dividends expected to be paid in 2023 and beyond may be treated as taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The portion of dividends in future years that will be treated as taxable will depend upon a number of factors, including but not limited to, the Company’s overall performance and the gross amount of any dividends made to stockholders in 2023 and beyond.

Seasonality

Clearway Energy, Inc.’s quarterly operating results are impacted by seasonal factors, as well as weather variability which can impact renewable energy resource. Most of the Company's revenues are generated from the months of May through September, as contracted pricing and renewable resources are at their highest levels in the Company’s portfolio. Factors driving the fluctuation in Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash from Operating Activities, and CAFD include the following:

• Higher summer capacity prices from conventional assets;
• Higher solar insolation during the summer months;
• Higher wind resources during the spring and summer months;
• Debt service payments which are made either quarterly or semi-annually;
• Timing of maintenance capital expenditures and the impact of both unforced and forced outages; and
• Timing of distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

The Company takes into consideration the timing of these factors to ensure sufficient funds are available for distributions and operating activities on a quarterly basis.

Financial Guidance and Pro Forma CAFD Outlook

The Company is updating 2023 full year CAFD guidance from $410 million to a range of $330 million to $360 million. The updated 2023 financial guidance reflects actual results to date as well as potential production variability for both wind and solar for the second half of the year and sensitivity for merchant energy margin at the Conventional segment. The potential production variability reflected in the revised financial guidance is based on year-to-date observations of production and weather patterns. The Company's 2023 financial guidance also factors in the contribution of committed growth investments based on current expected closing timelines. 2023 CAFD guidance does not factor in the timing of when CAFD is realized from new growth investments pursuant to 5-year averages beyond 2023.

The Company is increasing its pro forma CAFD outlook expectations to approximately $420 million due to committed growth investments. The pro forma CAFD outlook continues to be based on management expectations for median renewable energy production estimates.

Earnings Conference Call

On August 8, 2023, Clearway Energy, Inc. will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss these results. Investors, the news media and others may access the live webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials by logging on to Clearway Energy, Inc.’s website at http://www.clearwayenergy.com and clicking on “Presentations & Webcasts” under “Investor Relations.”

About Clearway Energy, Inc.

Clearway Energy, Inc. is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the US with over 5,500 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. The Company's over 8,000 net MW of assets also include approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities. Through this environmentally-sound diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, Clearway Energy endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Clearway Energy, Inc.’s Class C and Class A common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols CWEN and CWEN.A, respectively. Clearway Energy, Inc. is sponsored by its controlling investor, Clearway Energy Group LLC. For more information, visit investor.clearwayenergy.com.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and typically can be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” "target," “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “outlook,” “believe” and similar terms. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding, the Company’s dividend expectations and its operations, its facilities and its financial results, impacts related to COVID-19 (including any variant of the virus) or any other pandemic, statements regarding the anticipated consummation of the transactions described above, the anticipated benefits, opportunities, and results with respect to the transactions, including the Company’s future relationship and arrangements with Global Infrastructure Partners, TotalEnergies, and Clearway Energy Group, as well as the Company's Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash from Operating Activities, Cash Available for Distribution, the Company’s future revenues, income, indebtedness, capital structure, strategy, plans, expectations, objectives, projected financial performance and/or business results and other future events, and views of economic and market conditions.

Although Clearway Energy, Inc. believes that the expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, the Company's ability to maintain and grow its quarterly dividend, impacts related to COVID-19 (including any variant of the virus) or any other pandemic, risks relating to the Company's relationships with its sponsors, the failure to identify, execute or successfully implement acquisitions or dispositions (including receipt of third party consents and regulatory approvals), the Company's ability to acquire assets from its sponsors, the Company’s ability to borrow additional funds and access capital markets due to its indebtedness, corporate structure, market conditions or otherwise, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, including wind and solar performance, the Company’s ability to operate its businesses efficiently, manage maintenance capital expenditures and costs effectively, and generate earnings and cash flows from its asset-based businesses in relation to its debt and other obligations, the willingness and ability of counterparties to the Company’s offtake agreements to fulfill their obligations under such agreements, the Company's ability to enter into new contracts as existing contracts expire, changes in government regulations, operating and financial restrictions placed on the Company that are contained in the project-level debt facilities and other agreements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cyber terrorism and inadequate cybersecurity. Furthermore, any dividends are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations.

Clearway Energy, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Cash Available for Distribution are estimates as of today’s date, August 8, 2023, and are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. Clearway Energy, Inc. expressly disclaims any current intention to update such guidance. The foregoing review of factors that could cause Clearway Energy, Inc.’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect Clearway Energy, Inc.’s future results included in Clearway Energy, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, Clearway Energy, Inc. makes available free of charge at www.clearwayenergy.com, copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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