Voltalia has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Co-op to supply it with the entire output from a 34MW solar farm in North Yorkshire, the UK.
Under the 15-year agreement, Co-op will source electricity for its UK estate, including food stores, distribution centres and Funeralcare homes, from Voltalia’s Eastgate solar farm near Scarborough, set to be operational in 2025.
Early construction works have started on the project and it will feature a total of 62,500 solar panels once complete.
When all the solar panels are operating at maximum capacity they will provide enough electricity to supply up to 7.5% of Co-op’s total electricity needs per year.
Co-op group chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq said: “The signing of this corporate PPA is a significant milestone demonstrating Co-op’s goal to green the energy grid and create transparency in the renewable energy market.
“Not only will this agreement unlock more green energy, it will also enable energy security, drive economic growth and move us closer to net zero.
“That’s why we still believe that grid decarbonisation should be an absolute priority for the Government.
“While businesses have a part to play, reform to allow much more rapid progress for projects such as the Eastgate solar project is urgently needed.
“Whilst the significant progress the UK has made to date is to be applauded, as a country we remain too reliant on fossil fuels, and ambitious targets alone won’t deliver the benefits that a Net Zero grid will deliver, from energy security to lower generation costs to the better outcome for the planet that’s so desperately needed.”
Voltalia chief executive Sébastien Clerc added: “We are very proud to support Co-op in their net carbon zero target by providing clean electricity in the food industry, reaching millions of individuals and enabling us to raise awareness of more sustainable and responsible consumption.”