Vodafone has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to buy solar power in Europe. Iberdrola will supply the company with 410 GWh of solar energy per year in Germany, Portugal, and Spain.
The agreement includes 100% of the output from the 56MWp Boldekow solar plant, Iberdrola’s first solar project in Germany. Located in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it will be fully operational by 2024.
In Spain, Vodafone Portugal will take power from the newly built Velilla solar plant located in Palencia. Vodafone Spain will take 280GWh per year from the newly constructed Cedillo PV plant in Cáceres.
“We are both committed to connecting customers and communities to a cleaner and smarter future. As a global developer of clean energy, we have the projects around the world that allow us to support multinational companies like Vodafone who are committed to sustainability right across their business operations," Iberdrola’s global clients director Aitor Moso said.
He noted that "agreements with progressive businesses like Vodafone are increasingly important in allowing new renewables projects to be built, and we now look forward to accelerating the delivery of these solar PV plants.”
Vodafone Group chief external & corporate affairs officer Joakim Reiter added: “These agreements underline our commitment to ensure our customers will continue to benefit from electricity purchased 100% from renewable sources. They also provide Vodafone with improved energy security and long-term price certainty as we work towards achieving net-zero in our operations by 2030.”
“Today’s announcement is a great example of how telecoms operators like Vodafone can help accelerate this essential transition of countries’ energy mix by becoming anchor tenants for new renewable power deployments.” he said.
The companies said they would also discuss the possibility of additional PPAs to help with Vodafone’s climate plans in Europe, as well as considering “a range of other sustainability projects” to decarbonize its operations.
In the UK, Vodafone has signed two PPAs with Centrica and Mytilineos to acquire solar energy totaling 332MW from eight solar farms.
Iberdrola has previously signed PPAs in the US with Amazon for a project in North Carolina and multiple projects in Europe, and with Meta in Texas through its subsidiary.
