New York – Intesa Sanpaolo is expanding its support for the renewable energy sector in the United States through the financing of three major clean energy projects in Texas and California. The bank's IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, led by Mauro Micillo, has joined financing arrangements for projects that will significantly increase renewable power generation and energy storage capacity in two of the country's largest electricity markets. In California, IMI CIB participated in a banking consortium providing approximately $5 billion in financing for the Darden project, developed by IPX Power in the Central Valley. Built on former agricultural land, the facility is expected to generate up to 1.15 GWac / 1.6 GWp of solar power and will include a 4.6 GWh battery energy storage system, with commercial operations scheduled to begin in 2028. IPX Power is an independent power producer that develops, owns and operates large-scale clean energy infrastructure. In Texas, the division also joined a syndicate financing $382 million for the Pepper Solar and Lucky 7 Solar projects, developed by Sabanci Renewables. Located in McLennan and Hopkins counties, respectively, the two photovoltaic plants will have a combined installed capacity of 286 MWp and are expected to enter service by the end of 2027. Sabanci Renewables, a subsidiary of Turkey's Sabanci Holding, develops, builds and operates utility-scale solar projects across the United States. The financing will support the construction and commissioning of both facilities, increasing renewable generation capacity within the ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) market, one of the country's largest electricity systems. Once operational, the projects are expected to strengthen Texas' energy infrastructure, help meet growing electricity demand and facilitate the integration of additional renewable generation into the regional grid. "Developing new energy infrastructure requires specialized expertise and the ability to structure financial solutions tailored to the complexity of each individual project," said Nicola Doninelli, Head of Distribution Platforms & GTB at Intesa Sanpaolo's IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division. "Drawing on decades of experience in project finance and a strong track record in energy and infrastructure transactions, IMI CIB continues to support clients and industry partners in delivering strategic investments across the United States and internationally, contributing to the expansion of renewable energy capacity and the ongoing transformation of the global energy system." (9colonne)