ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) has signed an agreement with Co-op to supply clean energy from its Coldham solar farm in Cambridgeshire, England.
Co-op will use 100% of the electricity produced from Coldham solar farm for its estate, including food stores, distribution centres and funeral care homes right across the UK, over a 15-year period.
ScottishPower Renewables will be supplying Co-op with a peak capacity of 9MW of clean energy – enough to power around 55 of the company’s food stores.
SPR chief executive Charlie Jordan said: “We’re delighted to partner with companies that understand the importance of decarbonising their operations.
“By securing long-term commitments, PPAs provide stability, certainty, and ultimately accelerate our journey towards a greener, more resilient energy landscape.”
The Coldham solar farm is co-located with SPR’s existing Coldham wind farm and benefits from existing efficiencies with the site in terms of land, grid connections and other operating elements.
Co-op chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq added: “The launch of Coldham solar farm, as a result of our PPA with ScottishPower Renewables, shows Co-op’s commitment to achieving net zero.
“This agreement means more renewable energy will be generated, and in doing so increase energy security, boost economic development and help us achieve net zero in our own operations by 2035.”
Not only is Coldham solar farm helping Co-op to decarbonise, ScottishPower Renewables is hopeful the site will provide a wide range of resources for local wildlife to prosper having planted 7500 native trees and a diverse mix of grassland plants.
Coldham is one of a number of SPR large-scale clean energy developments in the East Anglia region.