Invest
In traditional investment real estate is seen as the intrinsic piece to the urban framework. In the smart era it forms part of a wider portfolio of investible assets linked by technology and that needs to be integrated across a city’s whole infrastructure. What we are beginning to see now is the variety of funds coming into this space, from debt to equity.
Topics
Traditional ‘core’ infrastructure has been segregated along sector lines. Over time, we have seen the emergence of 'core plus' infrastructure:
Utilities
electricity/gas networks and grids, water and waste, and district heating.
Energy infrastructure
contracted power generation, midstream assets, gas storage, demand response, renewable energy, energy storage and CCS.
Transportation
airports, ports, bridges, toll roads, rail, car parking, electric vehicles (and EV charging) and logistics.
Social infrastructure
housing, hospitals, schools (including universities, colleges and college student housing), prisons, private hospitals and care homes.
Digital and communications
fiber-optic and broadband networks, data centers, and cable and satellite.
Infrastructure services
equipment leasing and public service provision.
Telecoms
towers and masts.
In the smart era, these areas converge with technology as part of a city’s whole infrastructure.
Whereas historically the debt was sourced exclusively through bank debt, institutional investors now play a very significant role in the market, particularly in longer-term projects. Equity players range from conventional project sponsors to private equity.