• Raised $925 million of corporate capital through the issuance of the 2031 "Green Bond" Senior Notes
• Closed the acquisition of the 264 MW Mt. Storm wind project
• Executed a multi-year, 100 MW Resource Adequacy agreement at Marsh Landing
• Raising pro forma CAFD outlook
• Increasing the quarterly dividend by 1.5% to $0.329 per share in the second quarter of 2021; On track to achieve the upper end of 5-8% annual growth target by year end

Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN, CWEN.A) today reported first quarter 2021 financial results, including a Net Loss of $76 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $198 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $47 million, and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) of $(15) million.

"Clearway continues to execute on its business objectives through balance sheet optimization, new project execution, and by advancing efforts to commercialize the Company's California natural gas portfolio for post contract periods," said Christopher Sotos, Clearway Energy, Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "In March, Clearway raised $925 million in new Green Bonds due in 2031 at an attractive cost which lowered the Company's cash interest costs by refinancing the $600 million 2025 Senior Notes while also providing additional permanent capital to fund growth. The Company has now closed the previously announced acquisition of the 264 MW Mt. Storm wind project located in West Virginia, providing further geographic diversification to the Company. Lastly, we are pleased to announce the execution of a seven-and-a-half year Resource Adequacy agreement at Marsh Landing for 100 MW at a price that would maintain project level CAFD at the end of the existing contract if applied to the full capacity of the plant."

"Due to the reduced interest expense related to the refinancing of the 2025 Senior Notes, we are also pleased to announce an increase in the Company’s pro forma CAFD outlook to $395 million which further positions Clearway for sustained long term dividend growth.”

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 (Loss)/ Income

Table 2: Adjusted EBITDA

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

For the first quarter of 2021, the Company reported a Net Loss of $76 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $198 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $47 million, and CAFD of $(15) million. Net Loss decreased versus the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to the non-cash change in the fair value of interest rate swaps. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA results were lower than 2020 primarily due to the impact from the previously disclosed February 2021 Texas winter event. Due to the consolidation of certain projects in the company's financial statements, Adjusted EBITDA also reflects the financial impact of the Texas winter event attributable to third party equity investors. The impact of the Texas winter event was partially offset by the contribution of growth investments, including the acquisition of the 35% interest in Agua Caliente, and strong production at renewable projects on the West coast of the United States versus last year. In the first quarter of 2021, CAFD results were lower than 2020 primarily due to the impact of the Texas winter event and accelerated accrued corporate interest due to the repurchase of the 2025 Senior Notes.

COVID-19 Update

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has implemented measures and developed corporate and regional response plans to protect its employees and to maintain safe and reliable operations at its facilities. The Company does not currently anticipate any material impact to its financial conditions resulting from the pandemic, however it has seen some degradation in volumetric sales at certain Thermal locations. The Company continues to anticipate that there will be lower volumetric sales at the Thermal segment through 2021.

Operational Performance

Table 4: Selected Operating Results

In the first quarter of 2021, availability at the Conventional segment was lower than the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to shortened spring outages in 2020 at several projects to manage labor availability given the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Generation in the Renewables segment during the first quarter of 2021 was 51% higher than the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to improved renewable energy conditions on the West coast and from the execution of growth investments. These growth investments included the acquisition of the 35% interest in Agua Caliente and the additional interest in the Distributed Generation partnerships where results for both are now consolidated due to the resulting change in ownership. Thermal generation sold was 1% lower during the first quarter of 2021 versus last year primarily due to the divestiture of Dover.

During February 2021, Texas experienced extreme winter weather conditions. Certain of the Company's wind projects were unable to operate and experienced outages due to the weather conditions at that time. The Company continues to assess the full financial exposure related to the circumstances, including potential mitigants, ongoing discussions with contractual counterparties, any potential disputes which may result, any state sponsored solutions to address the financial impacts caused by the circumstances and any regulatory developments in Texas. During the quarter, and inclusive of amounts related to third party equity investors, the Company recorded a reduction of approximately $50 million in revenue to settle obligations for wind facilities during the extreme weather conditions. Based on available information, and after adjusting for third party equity investor contributions, the Company currently estimates a potential cash impact between $25 million and $30 million in 2021, of which approximately $25 million was in the first quarter.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Table 5: Liquidity

Total liquidity as of March 31, 2021 was $831 million, which was $63 million lower than as of December 31, 2020 primarily due to the execution of growth investments and the redemption of the 2025 Senior Notes. This was partially offset by the issuance of the 2031 Senior Notes.

The Company's liquidity includes $287 million of restricted cash as of March 31, 2021. 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 March 31, 2021, these restricted funds were comprised of $114 million designated to fund operating expenses, approximately $45 million designated for current debt service payments, and $93 million of reserves for debt service, performance obligations and other items including capital expenditures. The remaining $35 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 Commercial Agreements

Acquisition of Mt. Storm Wind Project

On April 23, 2021, the Company acquired Mt. Storm, a 264 MW wind asset in West Virginia, from Castleton Commodities International. Mt. Storm has a 10-year energy hedge with an investment-grade counterparty. The corporate capital commitment for the transaction was $96 million excluding working capital and other adjustments. The Company utilized existing corporate liquidity to fund the transaction. The project is not expected to have a meaningful contribution to CAFD in 2021 but is expected to contribute asset CAFD on a five-year average annual basis of approximately $10 million beginning January 1, 2022.

Resource Adequacy Agreement at Marsh Landing

On May 3, 2021, the Company contracted with a California Load Serving Entity to sell 100 MW of Resource Adequacy commencing in May 2023. The agreement is for seven-and-a-half years and is at terms which would maintain project level CAFD at the end of the contract period when no project level non-recourse debt remains if applied to the full capacity of the plant.

Financing Update

2031 "Green Bond" Senior Notes

On March 9, 2021, Clearway Energy Operating LLC completed the sale of $925 million of senior unsecured notes due 2031, or the 2031 Senior Notes. The 2031 Senior Notes bear interest at 3.750% and mature on February 15, 2031. Interest on the 2031 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, and interest payments will commence on August 15, 2021. The 2031 Senior Notes are unsecured obligations of Clearway Energy Operating LLC and are guaranteed by Clearway Energy LLC and by certain of Clearway Energy Operating LLC's wholly owned current and future subsidiaries.  The net proceeds from the 2031 Senior Notes were used to repurchase the 2025 Senior Notes, as well as to repay amounts outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes.

Repurchase of 2025 Senior Notes

On March 9, 2021, the Company completed the repurchase of an aggregate principal amount of $411 million, or 68.6%, of the 2025 Senior Notes outstanding as part of the cash tender offer announced on March 2, 2021.  Additionally, $6 million of the 2025 Senior Notes that were subject to guaranteed delivery procedures were subsequently repurchased on March 11, 2021. Concurrent with the launch of the tender offer, the Company exercised its right to optionally redeem the remaining principal amount of $183 million that were not validly tendered and purchased in the tender offer, pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes.  The 2025 Senior Notes repurchased and redeemed in March 2021 were effectuated at a premium of approximately 106% for total consideration of $636 million.

Quarterly Dividend

On April 29, 2021, Clearway Energy, Inc.’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on Class A and Class C common stock of $0.329 per share payable on June 15, 2021, to stockholders of record as of June 1, 2021.

Seasonality

Clearway Energy, Inc.’s quarterly operating results are impacted by seasonal factors, as well as weather variability which can impact renewable energy resource and volumetric sales of steam and chilled water at the Thermal segment. 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 reiterating its 2021 full year CAFD guidance of $325 million.

2021 financial guidance factors in the contribution of committed growth investments based on current expected closing timelines, the change in cash interest payments due to the issuance of the 2031 Senior Notes and the repayment of the 2025 Senior Notes, estimates for potential impacts on Thermal volumes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Company’s current estimated financial exposure from the previously disclosed February 2021 severe weather event in Texas. 2021 CAFD guidance does not factor in the timing of when CAFD is realized from new growth investments pursuant to 5-year averages beyond 2021.

With the effects above and the timing of CAFD realization pursuant to 5-year averages, the Company is updating its pro forma CAFD outlook expectations to approximately $395 million.

Financial guidance and the pro forma CAFD outlook continue to be based on median renewable energy production estimates for the full year.

Earnings Conference Call

On May 6, 2021, 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 4,200 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. Clearway Energy’s over 8,000 net MW of assets also includes approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities as well as a portfolio of district energy systems. Through this environmentally-sound diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, Clearway Energy endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Clearway Energy’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 Global Infrastructure Partners III (GIP), an independent infrastructure fund manager that invests in infrastructure and businesses in both OECD and select emerging market countries, through GIP’s portfolio company, Clearway Energy Group.

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 estimated impact of recent weather events on the Company, its operations, its facilities and its financial results, the Company’s response to such weather events, impacts related to COVID-19 or any other pandemic, the benefits of the relationship with Global Infrastructure Partners III (GIP) and GIP’s expertise, the Company’s future relationship and arrangements with GIP and Clearway Energy Group, as well as the Company's dividend expectations, 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, impacts related to COVID-19 or any other pandemic, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, including wind and solar performance, competition in wholesale power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power markets, changes in government regulations, the condition of capital markets generally, the Company's ability to access capital markets, cyber terrorism and inadequate cybersecurity, the ability to engage in successful acquisitions activity, unanticipated outages at its generation facilities, adverse results in current and future litigation, failure to identify, execute or successfully implement acquisitions (including receipt of third party consents and regulatory approvals), the Company's ability to enter into new contracts as existing contracts expire, risk relating to the Company's relationships with GIP and Clearway Energy Group, the Company's ability to acquire assets from GIP, Clearway Energy Group or third parties, the Company's ability to close drop down transactions, and the Company's ability to maintain and grow its quarterly dividends. 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 Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution are estimates as of today’s date, May 6, 2021, 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.

Contacts:

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

Appendix Table A-1: Three Months Ended March 31, 2021, 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 March 31, 2020, 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: 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-4: Three Months Ended March 31, 2021, Sources and Uses of Liquidity
The following table summarizes the sources and uses of liquidity in 2021:

Appendix Table A-5: Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution Guidance

Appendix Table A-6: Growth Investments 5 Year Average CAFD

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:

• EBITDA does not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
• EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs;
• EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on debt or cash income tax payments;
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
• Other companies in this industry may calculate EBITDA differently than Clearway Energy does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

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.

Cash Available for Distribution

A non-GAAP measure, Cash Available for Distribution is defined as of March 31, 2021 as Adjusted EBITDA plus cash distributions/return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates,  adjustments to reflect CAFD generated by unconsolidated investments that were not able to distribute project dividends prior to PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy on July 1, 2020 and subsequent release post-bankruptcy, cash receipts from notes receivable, cash distributions from noncontrolling interests, adjustments to reflect sales-type lease cash payments, 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.

¹ Includes adjustments to reflect CAFD generated by unconsolidated investments that were not able to distribute project dividends prior to PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy on July 1, 2020 and subsequent release post-bankruptcy
² Excludes unconsolidated projects
³ Generation sold excludes MWh that are reimbursable for economic curtailment
⁴ Primarily relates to Thermal Development Expenses
⁵ 2021 excludes $107 million of contributions related to funding of Rattlesnake; 2020 excludes $152 million of contributions relating to funding of Repowering 1.0 Partnership
⁶ 2021 excludes $805 million total consideration for the redemption of Corporate Notes and revolver payments, $52 million in connection with Pinnacle repowering; 2020 excludes $260 million for the repayment of construction financing in connection with the Repowering 1.0 Partnership and $90 million total consideration for the redemption of Corporate Notes
⁷ Adjustment to reflect cash generated from sales-type lease projects
⁸ 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
⁹ Primarily relates to Thermal Development Expenses
¹⁰ Includes tax equity proceeds and distributions to tax equity partners