Forecourt retailer Circle K and renewable energy company EDF Renewables Ireland have announced a new solar power corporate Power Purchase Agreement (cPPA).
Under the terms of the new deal, three EDF Renewables Ireland solar farms in Wexford and Kilkenny will power all 168 sites within Circle K’s company owned network from October.
The deal is set to last until 2036 and will ensure that Circle K has access to a sustainable and secure source of electricity for a 12-year period.
A cPPA involves a company committing to buy its electricity from a renewable energy project or projects at a pre-agreed price over a fixed term. Such deals reduce the company’s carbon footprint while they also secures a long-term, stable price for renewable energy.
With a combined capacity of 17MW, Blusheens, Coolroe and Curraghmartin solar Farms were among the country’s first operational solar farms when they started operations in March 2023.
Circle K also said will use the energy from the three solar farms to power its electric vehicle charging network.
It already has the most advanced EV charging capabilities in Ireland through its strategic partnerships with Ionity, ESB and Tesla, with charging points located at 44 service stations nationwide.
This is in addition to the ongoing rollout of its own branded EV chargers following a €7m investment announced last year, which will see Circle K branded EV chargers installed at 30 locations by next year.
Ciara Foxton, Managing Director of Circle K Ireland, said the company is committed to implementing environmentally sustainable practices across its operations.
“This agreement enables us to make real progress against this commitment. Using SEAI figures, we have estimated that this switch to solar energy will equate to 7,570 tonnes of CO2 saved annually,” she said.
“Developing our EV charging infrastructure to support Ireland’s transition to electric vehicle usage has been a core focus of ours for several years now. We are hugely excited that our EV charging infrastructure will also be powered using solar energy from October 2024 offering our customers access to renewable energy,” she added.
Ryanne Burges, Director for Offshore and Ireland at EDF Renewables UK and Ireland, said the company was pleased to have agreed its first cPPA in Ireland with Circle K, supporting them in their efforts to further decarbonise both their business and Ireland’s transport sector.
“As Ireland moves towards net-zero, cPPAs will play an increasingly significant role in driving the clean energy transition and providing an important route to market for renewable energy projects,. We are proud to partner with one of Ireland’s leading brands and look forward to providing them with a secure source of low-carbon power for many years to come,” she added.