Clearway Energy, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN) today reported second quarter 2026 financial results, including Net Income of $30 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $409 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $214 million, and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) of $167 million.
"Since last quarter, we have completed two additional accretive revenue contracts in our Texas operating fleet, received a dropdown offer for Honeycomb Phase II, and our sponsor has secured over 2 GW of new contracts recently signed for the 2027-2030 COD vintages, further crystallizing our long-term financial objectives. We remain in a very solid position to continue to strive for the top end or better of our CAFD per share target for 2030 of $2.90 to $3.10, we have line of sight now to the potential for 5-8%+ growth beyond 2030 from our 2030 target baseline, and continue to have the ability to generate further potential upside across all of our growth pathways, including through our co-located digital infrastructure business as it takes shape. With the building blocks needed to fulfill our growth objectives increasingly in view, we are well positioned to maximize value for CWEN stockholders over the long term. While we are lowering our 2026 financial guidance due to factors outlined in our mid-July operational preview, our team is focused on maintaining our trademark operational excellence to uphold our historic track record of meeting our financial targets," said Craig Cornelius, Clearway Energy, Inc.'s President and Chief Executive Officer.
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 2026, the Company reported Net Income of $30 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $409 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $214 million, and CAFD of $167 million. Net Income increased versus the second quarter of 2025 primarily due to changes in mark-to-market for economic hedges. Adjusted EBITDA results in the second quarter of 2026 were higher than the second quarter of 2025 due to the contribution of growth investments. CAFD results in the second quarter of 2026 were higher than the second quarter of 2025 primarily due to higher EBITDA.
Operational Performance
Table 4: Selected Operating Results 1
In the second quarter of 2026, availability at the Flexible Generation segment was higher than the second quarter of 2025 primarily due to strong operational execution. Generation in the Renewables & Storage segment during the second quarter of 2026 was 16% higher than the second quarter of 2025 primarily due to the contribution of growth investments.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Table 5: Liquidity
Total liquidity as of June 30, 2026, was $985 million, which was $76 million lower than as of December 31, 2025, primarily due to the execution of growth investments.
As of June 30, 2026, the Company’s liquidity included $292 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, 2026, these restricted funds were comprised of $130 million designated to fund operating expenses, approximately $40 million designated for current debt service payments, and $90 million of reserves for debt service, performance obligations and other items including capital expenditures. The remaining $32 million is held in distribution reserve accounts.
As of June 30, 2026, the Company had $60 million in outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility and $198 million in letters of credit outstanding. During July 2026, the Company borrowed an additional $45 million under the revolving credit facility and subsequently repaid $50 million. As of July 31, 2026, the Company had $55 million in outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The facility will continue to be used for general corporate purposes including financing of future investments or acquisitions and posting letters of credit.
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
Honeycomb Phase II Offer
In the third quarter of 2026, Clearway Group offered the Company the opportunity to enter into partnership arrangements to own cash equity interests in a 210 MW storage portfolio located in Utah that is expected to reach commercial operations in 2027. The portfolio has been awarded long-term contracts with an investment grade utility and the potential corporate capital commitment for the investment is expected to be approximately $110 million. The investment is subject to negotiation with Clearway Group, and the review and approval by the Company’s Independent Directors.
Chimney Canyon Project
In the third quarter of 2026, Clearway Group announced a long-term PPA with an investment grade utility for Chimney Canyon, a 975 MW solar plus BESS project in Arizona expected to achieve commercial operations in 2029. The Company estimates that its total potential corporate capital investment could be approximately $350 million. An investment decision for the project would be subject to receipt of a potential future dropdown offer from Clearway Group, negotiation of such dropdown offer, and the review and approval by the Company’s Independent Directors.
Elbow Creek Wind PPA restructuring
On June 25, 2026, the Company restructured its existing energy-related commodity contract associated with the Elbow Creek wind facility, which resulted in an in-substance financing to settle existing derivative liabilities over time. In connection with the restructuring, the Company also entered into a 15-year PPA with a commercial counterparty, which replaces the volumetric and price exposure of Elbow Creek’s energy-related commodity contract with more favorable pricing.
Langford Wind PPA restructuring
On June 10, 2026, the Company restructured its existing energy-related commodity contract associated with the Langford wind facility, which resulted in an in-substance financing to settle existing derivative liabilities over time. In connection with the restructuring, the Company also entered into a 15-year PPA with an investment-grade counterparty, which replaces the volumetric and price exposure of Langford’s energy-related commodity contract with more favorable pricing.
Quarterly Dividend
On August 4, 2026, Clearway Energy, Inc.’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the Company’s Class C common stock of $0.4750 per share payable on September 15, 2026, to stockholders of record as of September 1, 2026.
Seasonality
Clearway Energy, Inc.’s quarterly operating results are impacted by seasonal factors, as well as weather variability, which can impact renewable energy resource throughout the year. 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:
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
The Company is revising its 2026 full year CAFD guidance to a range of $430 million to $470 million. The midpoint of the 2026 financial guidance range is based on updated renewable energy production estimates for the remainder of the year, while the range reflects a range of potential distributions of outcomes on resource and performance. The guidance range also factors in completing committed growth investments on currently forecasted schedules.
Earnings Conference Call
On August 5, 2026, Clearway Energy, Inc. will host a conference call at 5:00 p.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 owners of clean energy generation assets in the US and is leading the transition to a world powered by clean energy. Our portfolio comprises approximately 13.9 GW of gross capacity in 27 states, including 11.1 GW of wind, solar, and energy storage and over 2.8 GW of dispatchable power generation providing critical grid reliability services. Through our diversified and primarily contracted clean energy portfolio, Clearway Energy endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Clearway Energy, Inc.’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CWEN. 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 Clearway Energy, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) dividend expectations and its operations, its facilities and its financial results, statements regarding the likelihood, terms, timing and/or consummation of the transactions described in this news release, the potential 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 (collectively and together with their affiliates, “Related Persons”), 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 the Company believes that the expectations are reasonable at this time, 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 in this news release include, among others, the Company's ability to maintain and grow its quarterly dividend; potential risks relating to the Company's relationships with Clearway Energy Group and its owners; the Company’s ability to successfully identify, evaluate and consummate investment opportunities, as well as acquisitions from, and dispositions to, third parties; risks related to the Company's ability to acquire assets, including risks that offered or committed transactions from Related Persons may not be approved, on the terms proposed or otherwise, by the Corporate Governance, Conflicts, and Nominating Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “GCN”), or if approved, timely consummated; the Company’s ability to borrow additional funds and access capital markets due to its indebtedness, corporate structure, market conditions or otherwise; the Company’s substantial indebtedness and the possibility that the Company may incur additional indebtedness going forward; changes in law, including judicial decisions; hazards customary to the power production industry and power generation operations, such as fuel and electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions (including wind and solar conditions), catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to fuel supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission or gas pipeline system constraints and the possibility that the Company may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards; 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 contracts to sell power and procure fuel on acceptable terms and prices; government regulations, including compliance with regulatory requirements and changes in market rules, rates, tariffs and environmental laws; operating and financial restrictions placed on the Company that are contained in the facility-level debt facilities and other agreements of the Company and its subsidiaries; and cyber terrorism and inadequate cybersecurity, or the occurrence of a catastrophic loss and the possibility that the Company may not have adequate insurance to cover losses resulting from such hazards or the inability of the Company’s insurers to provide coverage. Furthermore, any dividends are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations.
In addition, this news release contains reference to certain offered and committed transactions with Related Persons, which transactions are subject to the review, negotiation and approval of the GCN. Transactions referred to as “offered” (or any variation thereof) have been presented to the Company by the Related Persons, but the terms remain subject to review and negotiation by the GCN. Transactions may have been recently offered or undergone more extensive negotiations. Unless otherwise noted, no assumptions should be made with respect to the stage of negotiation of an offered transaction, nor should any assumptions be made that any offered transaction will be approved, committed or ultimately consummated on the terms described herein or at all. Transactions referred to as “committed” or “signed” (or any variation thereof) represent transactions which have been approved by the GCN and for which definitive agreements have been delivered; however, such transactions have not yet been consummated and remain subject to various risks and uncertainties (including financing, third party consents and arrangements and regulatory approvals). The Company provides information regarding offered and committed transactions believing that such information is useful to an understanding of the Company’s business and operations; however, given the uncertainty of such transactions, undue reliance should not be placed on any expectations regarding such transactions and the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, as actual results may vary materially.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly 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 5, 2026, and are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. The Company expressly disclaims any current intention to update such guidance. The foregoing review of factors that could cause The Company's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be construed as exhaustive and should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's future results included in The Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, The Company 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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Appendix Table A-1: Three Months Ended June 30, 2026, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):
Appendix Table A-2: Three Months Ended June 30, 2025, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):
Appendix Table A-3: Six Months Ended June 30, 2026, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):
Appendix Table A-4: Six Months Ended June 30, 2025, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):
Appendix Table A-5: Cash Available for Distribution Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Cash Available for Distribution and provides a reconciliation to Cash from Operating Activities:
Appendix Table A-6: Six Months Ended June 30, 2026, Sources and Uses of Liquidity
The following table summarizes the sources and uses of liquidity in 2026:
Appendix Table A-7: Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution Guidance
Non-GAAP Financial Information
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) are non-GAAP financial measures. These measurements are not recognized in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that Clearway Energy’s future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
EBITDA represents net income before interest (including loss on debt extinguishment), taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because Clearway Energy considers it an important supplemental measure of its performance and believes debt and equity holders frequently use EBITDA to analyze operating performance and debt service capacity. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to use to invest in the growth of Clearway Energy’s business. Clearway Energy compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. See the statements of cash flow included in the financial statements that are a part of this news release.
Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a further supplemental measure of operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for mark-to-market gains or losses, non-cash equity compensation expense, asset write offs and impairments; and factors which we do not consider indicative of future operating performance such as transition and integration related costs. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons Clearway Energy considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. As an analytical tool, Adjusted EBITDA is subject to all of the limitations applicable to EBITDA. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, the reader should be aware that in the future Clearway Energy may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this news release.
Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors and other users of our financial statements in evaluating our operating performance because it provides them with an additional tool to compare business performance across companies and across periods. This measure is widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired.
Additionally, Management believes that investors commonly adjust EBITDA information to eliminate the effect of restructuring and other expenses, which vary widely from company to company and impair comparability. As we define it, Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for the effects of impairment losses, gains or losses on sales, non-cash equity compensation expense, dispositions or retirements of assets, any mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivatives, adjustments to exclude gains or losses on the repurchase, modification or extinguishment of debt, and any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items plus adjustments to reflect the Adjusted EBITDA from our unconsolidated investments. We adjust for these items in our Adjusted EBITDA as our management believes that these items would distort their ability to efficiently view and assess our core operating trends.
In summary, our management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to readily view operating trends, as a measure for planning and forecasting overall expectations and for evaluating actual results against such expectations, and in communications with our Board of Directors, shareholders, creditors, analysts and investors concerning our financial performance.
Where references are pro forma, forward-looking, preliminary or prospective in nature, and not based on historical fact, the table set forth above does not provide a reconciliation. The Company could not provide such reconciliation without undue hardship because such EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA numbers are estimations, approximations and/or ranges. In addition, it would be difficult for the Company to present a detailed reconciliation on account of many unknown variables for the reconciling items, including EBITDA. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.
Cash Available for Distribution
A non-GAAP measure, Cash Available for Distribution, or CAFD, is defined as of June 30, 2026 as Adjusted EBITDA plus cash distributions/return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates, cash receipts from notes receivable, cash distributions from noncontrolling interests, adjustments to reflect sales-type lease cash payments and payments for lease expenses, less cash distributions to noncontrolling interests, maintenance capital expenditures, pro-rata Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates, cash interest paid, income taxes paid, principal amortization of indebtedness, changes in prepaid and accrued capacity payments, and adjusted for development expenses. Management believes CAFD is a relevant supplemental measure of the Company’s ability to earn and distribute cash returns to investors.
We believe CAFD is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because securities analysts and other interested parties use such calculations as a measure of our ability to make quarterly distributions. In addition, CAFD is used by our management team for determining future acquisitions and managing our growth. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to CAFD is cash provided by operating activities.
However, CAFD has limitations as an analytical tool because it does not include changes in operating assets and liabilities and excludes the effect of certain other cash flow items, all of which could have a material effect on our financial condition and results from operations. CAFD is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered an alternative to cash provided by operating activities or any other performance or liquidity measure determined in accordance with GAAP, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs. In addition, our calculations of CAFD are not necessarily comparable to CAFD as calculated by other companies. Investors should not rely on these measures as a substitute for any GAAP measure, including cash provided by operating activities.
Where references are pro forma, forward-looking, preliminary or prospective in nature, and not based on historical fact, the table set forth above does not provide a reconciliation. The Company could not provide such reconciliation without undue hardship because such EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA numbers are estimations, approximations and/or ranges. In addition, it would be difficult for the Company to present a detailed reconciliation on account of many unknown variables for the reconciling items, including EBITDA. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.
1 Excludes equity method investments
2 MWh generated/sold includes 651 and 354 MWh (in thousands) associated with curtailment activities for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, and 1,027 and 790 for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
3 2026 excludes $279 million of proceeds from tax credit transfers related to Pine Forest, which were primarily used to repay bridge loans.
4 2026 excludes $71 million of net distributions primarily related to Goat Mountain, Honeycomb, Pine Forest and Rosamond South I; 2025 excludes $369 million of net contributions related to Dan’s Mountain, Pine Forest and Rosamond South I.
5 2026 excludes $482 million primarily for the repayment of bridge loans in connection with Honeycomb and Pine Forest; 2025 excludes $247 million for the repayment of construction bridge loans in connection with Dan’s Mountain, Luna Valley, Pine Forest and Rosie South I, and $112 million for the refinancing of Buckthorn solar.
6 Distribution from unconsolidated affiliates can be classified as Return of Investment on Unconsolidated Affiliates when actuals are reported. This is below cash from operating activities
7 Includes tax equity proceeds and distributions to tax equity partners
8 Excludes maturities assumed to be refinanced