EDF Renewables UK has signed a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with major retail and commercial bank, NatWest.
Through this contract, 49.99MW of renewable power will be provided to NatWest from Porth Wen Solar Farm located in Anglesey, North Wales, with power balancing and shaping services provided by EDF Business Solutions**.
Construction is already underway and will be completed in 2023. EDF Renewables UK is proud that over 60% of the workforce during the enabling and civils works have been local (based less than 1 hour from the project) and once complete, the 190 acres site will be able to be used for sheep grazing. The team will also enhance biodiversity on site with a mile long wildlife corridor, hedgerow, wildflower and woodland planting.
CEO of EDF Renewables UK, Matthieu Hue said: “We are delighted to be working with NatWest. This project demonstrates our ability to develop solar in the UK through innovative routes to market, to provide solutions for our customers in terms of low cost renewable energy whilst helping to de-carbonise the UK electricity system.”
James Close, Director of Climate Change at NatWest Group, said: “We are pleased to be working with EDF Renewables UK to deliver the Porth Wen Solar Farm. When it is completed later this year, it will supply the grid with renewable electricity equivalent to the usage of 9,500 average UK homes*. As well as producing low carbon electricity, the solar farm project will also enhance local biodiversity and nature in Anglesey, with a mile-long wildlife corridor being planted.
“As a bank we have a responsibility to ensure that our buildings are powered by renewable electricity to help reduce the direct carbon emissions created by our own operations. Having already reduced our direct own operational carbon footprint by 46% against a 2019 baseline, our renewable electricity consumption is currently 97% globally and we plan to achieve 100% for our direct own operations by 2025.”
Director of EDF Business Solutions (EDF), Matt Nunn said: “This innovative Corporate PPA will be delivered by utilising EDFs unrivalled energy market knowledge and expert trading capabilities to help maximise NatWest’s renewable power portfolio.
“CPPAs like this will play a huge part in enabling Britain to achieve Net Zero and we are excited to be working with generators and businesses to provide the route to market for renewable energy.”
For several years, EDF in the UK has been forging ahead with a number of solutions, helping commercial and industrial customers find the best way to achieve their low carbon ambitions through generating renewable energy.
For this contract EDF will work with NatWest’s current electricity supplier and any future suppliers to incorporate the electricity generated at Porth Wen into their broader portfolio.
The Porth Wen solar project will be an important source of low carbon electricity and could meet the average annual domestic electricity requirements of up to 9,500 households*.
For more information on Porth Wen visit: Porth Wen – EDF Renewables (edf-re.uk)
Notes to Editors
*Load factors based on the five year rolling averages on unchanged configuration basis using Table 6.5 of ‘Digest of UK Energy Statistics’ – latest figures as per July 2020 release.
** Power Balancing: forecasting the amount of generation on a half hourly basis, making sure that correct amount of power (as forecast changes) is sent to NatWest. Shaping services: converting that variable generation into a firm volume of power and transferring to NatWest’s supplier.
About EDF Renewables
EDF Renewables UK and Ireland (www.edf-re.uk) is a subsidiary of EDF Group, one of the world’s largest low carbon electricity companies, and our investment and innovation is reducing costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits for communities. With our operating portfolio of 38 renewable energy sites including battery, onshore and offshore wind (together totalling more than 1 GW) we are providing much needed affordable, low carbon electricity. We have an expanding portfolio with almost 5 GW of projects in planning and development, including wind, battery and solar PV. We have 700 MW in construction.
About NatWest
NatWest Group is a relationship bank for a digital world. We champion potential; breaking down barriers and building financial confidence so the 19 million people, families and businesses we serve in communities throughout the UK and Ireland can rebuild and thrive. If our customers succeed, so will we.
About EDF Business Solutions
EDF Business Solutions is the business customer department of EDF UK working together with large, medium sized businesses and public sector on their road to net zero through various energy solutions. Including supply, Power Purchase Agreements, metering solutions, EV, on-site solar and PV solutions and carbon offsetting.
EDF offtake the most renewable electricity of any energy supplier in Great Britain, through both equity-owned generation and capacity under PPA contracts. (Cornwall Insight, August 2022).
For more information:
Ffion Davies
External Affairs Manager for Wales
EDF Renewables UK, United Kingdom
T +44 7920 287728
