Latest news with #CPPAs
The Journal
a day ago
- Business
- The Journal
Environmentalists urge Kildare County Council to refuse planning to €3bn data centre
FRIENDS OF THE Earth Ireland, An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) have called on Kildare County Council to refuse planning permission to a planned €3 billion data centre due mainly to the increased greenhouse gas emissions it will produce. In August of last year, multimillionaire engineering entrepreneur and co-owner of Monaghan-based forklift manufacturer Combilift, Robert Moffett's Herbata Ltd, lodged plans for the six data centre campus for a site next to the M7 motorway and business park at Naas, Co Kildare Last October, the Council stalled the plan after stating that the projected CO2 emissions from the data centre campus on lands in the Jigginstown, Halverstown and Newhall areas of Naas represents 49.35% of the 'Sectoral Emissions Ceiling' for the entire Commercial Built Environment Sector to 2030. The Council stated that the level of emission is 'excessive' for one development. In June, Herbata lodged extensive further information on the scheme in response to the Council concerns pointing out that the data centre will not be reliant upon the existing electricity generation and will get 50% of its power from renewables. Consultants for the applicants, RPS stated that the utilisation of Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) would result in a consequent reduction of 552,000 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions However, in new submissions ahead of a Council planning decision this week, Friends of the Earth Ireland, An Taisce and FIE call on the Council to reject the plan while County Kildare Chamber has urged the planning authority to grant permission. On behalf of FIE, director Tony Lowes stated that FIE strongly oppose the proposed development of six gas-powered data centres due to their projected high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and incompatibility with Ireland's climate obligations He stated that the development 'could emit nearly one million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year. Over five years, this would account for almost a quarter of Ireland's electricity sector carbon budget – posing a major adverse impact on national emissions targets'. Advertisement Lowes adds that 'the mitigation measures proposed, such as Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs), the potential use of biomethane or hydrogen, and future district heating, are either mismatched, unreliable, unproven, or dependent on fossil fuels'. On behalf of Friends of the Earth Ireland, campaigns director Jerry Mac Evilly stated that 'the central message of this submission is that the applicant has not clearly or sufficiently addressed significant emissions impacts of the six gas-powered data centres. 'We therefore call for the application to be rejected,' he said. He said that 'the proposed data centre's extremely high associated emissions directly conflict with legal obligations to reduce emissions under the 2021 Climate Act and would undermine national decarbonisation efforts'. On behalf of An Taisce, senior planning and environmental policy officer Phoebe Duvall has told the council that to grant permission 'would be in contravention of Ireland's legally binding emissions reduction obligations and contrary to the national climate objective'. In a submission on behalf of County Kildare Chamber, CEO Sinead Ronan has told the council that 'this project represents a significant and timely investment in Naas and the wider Kildare region, delivering multiple economic, environmental and infrastructural benefits'. Ronan stated that 'the revised proposals submitted in response to the request for further information highlight several key enhancements'. She said: 'Notably, the data centre will not draw power from the national grid. Instead, only a minimum of 50% of its energy demand will be met through on-site solar PV generation or renewable energy sourced via Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs)'. Ronan stated that 'this proposal presents a forward-looking opportunity to enhance the local economy, support employment and position Kildare as a leader in sustainable digital infrastructure. 'The project also has a clear alignment to planning policy, climate goals and heritage protection'.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
New Flogas deal brings wind energy to medium and large businesses
Flogas, which is owned by DCC, has announced a new partnership with Ørsted Onshore Ireland, which will enable businesses to directly source renewable electricity from the Knockawarriga wind farm in Co Limerick. Flogas said the new deal builds on its multi-buyer Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) model, which is designed to help medium and large sized companies achieve their net-zero targets. A Corporate Power Purchase Agreement is where a company agrees to purchase electricity directly from a wind farm or solar farm. Flogas noted that the demand for renewable CPPAs in Ireland is increasing significantly, driven by the growing number of companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, attain budget predictability in an unstable energy market and support their sustainability initiatives. In its 17 years of operations, the 22.5MW Knockawarriga wind farm has prevented over 33,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The first six businesses partnered with Knockawarriga wind farm include financial services, insurance, manufacturing, hospitality and food production sectors, and include Walsh Mushrooms Group and Allianz Worldwide Care. Flogas aims to supply renewable energy to over 20 medium and large sized businesses within the next 12 months through this model, supporting decarbonisation efforts and reducing reliance on imported energy. John Rooney, Managing Director at Flogas Ireland, said it is often the case that power purchase agreements are for the largest multinationals. "But this initiative reflects Flogas' vision of "Democratising CPPAs", making renewable energy purchase agreements accessible beyond just the largest corporations, and opening the door for more Irish businesses to take control of their energy future," Mr John Rooney added. "Businesses can decarbonise their energy consumption in the most stable, predictable and cost competitive manner," he said. "This market leading CPPA structure will increase electricity supply chain transparency and give control to medium and large companies who want to take responsibility and ownership for their electricity procurement and support local Irish renewable power," he added. TJ Hunter, Vice President Onshore Ireland UK, Ørsted, said that the company has been operating in the Irish market for decades generating renewable energy for homes and businesses across Ireland. "Wind farms such as Knockawarriga play a crucial role in Ireland's energy system and every effort must be made by Government and industry to ensure they continue to generate secure local energy for many decades to come," he added. The Government's Climate Action Plan sets a target that 15% of electricity consumption should come from renewable electricity contracted under CPPAs by 2030.
Irish Examiner
28-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
How corporate power purchase agreements are helping Ireland's large energy users to power success
SSE Airtricity is synonymous with cleaner, greener energy. The company, which was bought by SSE in 2008, has been actively harnessing Ireland's greatest natural resource – wind – ever since, helping to support Ireland's decarbonisation plans. That trusted heritage in renewable energy is why a growing number of the country's leading energy users, from across commercial and industrial sectors, have chosen to enter into corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs) with the company. These agreements allow them to purchase renewable electricity under contract, with a guarantee of origin, so they know the electricity provided was generated by a wind farm owned by SSE. Businesses can be confident in their efforts to meet their environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements and their contribution to carbon reduction. And it's not just good news for the environment. It makes good commercial sense too. Signing up to an SSE Airtricity CPPA can help large energy users achieve greater price certainty. By locking in electricity prices for the duration of the contract, such customers are shielded from the volatility of energy markets, allowing for better budgeting and financial planning. It also means they are directly supporting Ireland's energy transition. Because CPPAs provide an additional route to market for generators, independent of the Government-backed Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, they enable new wind farms to be built and existing ones to stay in operation longer. Musgrave – Ireland's leading food retail, wholesale and food service company – has just signed up to an SSE Airtricity CPPA. Together with its retail partners, Musgrave supports more than 41,000 jobs in more than 1,000 stores, offices and distribution centres. These support market leading food and beverage brands such as SuperValu and Centra as well as its wholesale and food service wing, Musgrave Marketplace. In April Musgrave announced a landmark CPPA which will see it purchase 100 per cent of the wind-powered energy from Richfield Wind Farm in Co Wexford and the Bessy Bell 2 Wind Farm in Co Tyrone, both of which are owned and operated by SSE Renewables, a sister company to SSE Airtricity. The energy generated from Richfield Wind Farm and Bessy Bell 2 Wind Farm will help meet the Musgrave Group's electricity needs, including Musgrave offices, 11 distribution centres and 105 SuperValu and Centra retail stores across Ireland. The move is designed to help support Musgrave to decarbonise its operations, manage its energy costs and minimise the financial risk associated with market volatility. 'At Musgrave, we are proud to partner with SSE Airtricity in signing this Corporate Power Purchase Agreement,' says Noel Keeley, chief executive of Musgrave Group. 'This landmark agreement marks a significant milestone in our journey toward net zero, and empowers our SuperValu and Centra stores to meaningfully reduce their environmental impact. Noel Keeley, chief executive of Musgraves and SSE Airtricity's managing director, Stephen Gallagher. 'Our network of stores is deeply committed to driving sustainability and making a positive difference in their local communities. Together with our retail partners we have ambitious plans for our journey to net zero, while supporting the renewable energy sector in Ireland through partnerships like this CPPA.' The first all-island retail CPPA, it was a landmark agreement for the retail sector. 'The partnership reflects our continued commitment to supporting businesses in their sustainability journey,' says SSE Airtricity's managing director, Stephen Gallagher. 'As energy partner, our role is to ensure Musgrave has access to reliable renewable energy solutions and that SuperValu and Centra stores can continue to be leaders in sustainability. We look forward to continued collaborations to drive positive environmental impact, supporting a net-zero future for Ireland.' CPPAs are one of a suite of energy solutions that SSE Airtricity offers. These include energy audits, a free survey supported by SEAI to help commercial customers to better understand their energy usage, identifying cost savings, reducing risk and lowering carbon footprint. SSE Airtricity provides solar PV solutions too, including survey and installation for immediate ESG benefits, the potential for cost savings and long-term price stability, as well as the potential to generate revenue through microgeneration. Through funded solar solutions large users can install commercial solar panels via a solar PPA with no upfront cost. SSE Airtricity also offers practical assistance such as the installation of electric vehicle charging points and can tailor energy solutions to meet the specific needs of businesses, supporting sustainability and operational efficiency goals. Its distributed energy solutions meanwhile provide large users with modular energy generation and storage technologies, another fully financed energy solution designed around your needs. The tailored aspect of SSE Airtricity CPPAs, and their ease of use, are important parts of the value proposition. 'A lot of people think this is the realm of Big Tech or data centres because they are very active in this space. But effectively the product we have developed is both personalised and simplified for diverse industry sectors. Each CPPA is completely bespoke and we have worked very hard to simplify the process so that customers have one contract and one single point of contact,' explains David O'Byrne, the company's head of industrial and commercial contracts. 'Each agreement is between one partner and one clean energy solution, which is why each and every one of these agreements is different,' he says. 'We come in, get to know your business, look at demand and usage throughout your organisation on an annualised basis, and then tailor an agreement to suit.' In having an SSE Airtiricty CPPA, organisations are not only securing a reliable source of renewable energy – they're also playing a meaningful role in Ireland's energy transition. In Musgrave's case for example, its agreement directly continues the demand for energy from Richfield Wind Farm, contributing to the extension of life of a key renewable asset. 'A CPPA provides clear, verifiable proof that your business is serious about climate action,' says O'Byrne. 'A CPPA can offer greater price stability, enabling businesses to secure a competitive fixed energy rate for the energy generated over the agreement's term. That support in managing exposure to market fluctuations can make longer-term budgeting more predictable,' he says. 'We only have to remember the impact Russia's invasion of Ukraine had on energy prices to appreciate the value of that. CPPAs also helps protect energy security, another concern for businesses. 'Having a dedicated source of renewable energy, as Musgrave does, provides CPPA customers with greater visibility and assurance over their energy supply. It also reinforces their commitment to sustainability and supports the broader development of renewable infrastructure in Ireland.' Visit for more information.
