Sustainability Roundtable: Powering Clean Energy Procurement

Sustainability Roundtable has announced a major clean energy procurement via its Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB).

The consolidated arrangement consists of four four virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) that will deliver 30MW of solar energy from Aquila Clean Energy EMEA's newly-developed Catania Solartrack facility—a 50 MW solar installation located in Sicily.

"Our NZCB clients help to lead the corporate energy transition by procuring EACs that actually cause new renewable capacity," says Jim Boyle, CEO of Sustainability Roundtable.

"Corporations must secure EACs to meet their Scope 2 emissions goals, as they represent the only way to claim each megawatt hour of renewable energy – whether produced on your roof or 1,000 miles away. These NZCB buyers want a cost-effective clean energy strategy that is the proximate cause of new renewable projects.

"Our VPPA 2.0 approach makes possible both a commercially compelling procurement that individual buyers cannot do alone and one that actually causes new renewable energy projects. Best of all, our VPPA2.0 approach is scalable throughout the EU and has already caused more than a Gigawatt of new renewable energy projects in the US."

VPPA 2.0 strategy drives new renewable capacity

Aquila Clean Energy is a European developer of integrated and hybrid clean energy solutions and an independent power producer.

Marcos Domínguez, Head of Power Hedging & Research at Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, calls the agreement "a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to sustainability and the wider shift towards a low-carbon economy". 

He adds: "Collaborative purchasing agreements such as this one are essential for accelerating the large-scale deployment of renewable energy."

"By joining forces with other forward-thinking organisations, we can increase the efficiency of renewable energy access, helping to decarbonise the grid in a way that benefits the environment and the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners and stakeholders to build a more sustainable future."

Powering 27,000 homes

The Catania Solartrack facility stretches across almost 250 acres, providing a mixture of agriculture and power generation. The installation will prevent approximately 24,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year while producing sufficient clean electricity to power 27,000 homes annually.

Engineers utilised PVcase—a comprehensive design and engineering platform integrated with Autodesk's AutoCAD—to develop the solar array from concept through completion. Construction is expected to wrap up by March 2026, with the facility entering commercial operation six months later.

The NZCB's procurement strategy places emphasis on the building of new renewable energy capacity to be built, instead of buying energy attribute certificates (EACs) from systems which are already built. The procurement is designed to towards corporate buyers' Scope 2 emissions goals, while also helping with new renewable energy capacity in Catania.

This project will help to create approximately 61,000 Purchaser Caused Environmental Attribute Certificates (PC EACs) annually for the four off-takers throughout the contract's 10-year duration.

This procurement's PC EAC buyers work with the NZCB to get access to the utility-scale clean energy's financial and environmental benefits.

As the 30 MW of solar energy was produced through VPPA 2.0, the NZCB's systematised reverse auction process enables project financing by providing developers with guaranteed fixed-price revenue.

The aggregations democratise renewable energy procurement for companies too small to undertake a full VPPA alone.

Corporate buyers unite for clean energy access

The corporate buyers leveraging their combined buying power for this purchase include Autodesk, IDEXX Laboratories, Synopsys and one other NZCB buyer.

Autodesk, a global provider of architecture, engineering, construction, product design and media software, will procure 5MW of solar energy to help with its goal to achieve 100% renewable energy. The purchase will also boost the firm in its objective to add new renewable energy to the grid, while contributing to the company's broader decarbonisation target.

Joe Speicher, Chief Sustainability Officer at Autodesk, says: "At Autodesk, we are committed to embedding sustainability throughout our business. Our investments in renewable energy and low-carbon technologies reflect our commitment to reducing emissions across our operations and empowering customers to do the same.

"We are thrilled to join the NZCB because we understand that, by advancing cleaner energy sources and embedding carbon intelligence into our design and make tools, we're accelerating progress toward a more resilient and equitable lower-carbon future."

IDEXX Laboratories, a global leader in pet healthcare innovation, will also procure 5 MW of solar energy to aid the addition of new, clean electricity to the European energy grid aligned with IDEXX's European energy consumption. This aggregated renewable energy procurement – IDEXX's third with the NZCB globally and first in Europe – supports its goal of procuring 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

Synopsys, a leading provider of silicon-to-systems design solutions, will procure 7MW of solar energy, contributing to its ongoing renewable energy strategy and supporting its decarbonisation efforts and SBTi-validated reduction targets.

Erika Varga McEnroe, SVP Legal and Deputy General Counsel at Synopsys, says: "At Synopsys, we believe that operating responsibly is fundamental to building long-term value.

"This includes pursuing decarbonisation efforts that make sound business sense, help us meet our SBTi validated emissions reduction targets and enable the availability of more renewable energy. We appreciate that NZCB and Aquila Clean Energy can support our efforts."

The fourth NZCB participant will procure renewable electricity generated from a 13 MW portion of the Catania Solartrack project.