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In a major leap toward sustainability, Innova has secured a landmark 40-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water), ensuring that the Five Fords sewage treatment works run on locally generated renewable energy for decades.
The renewable energy for this long-term partnership will be sourced from Innova’s Wrexham and Cefn solar farms, strategically positioned near Five Fords. The Wrexham Solar Park, which features a 5.7MW solar array co-located with a 10MW battery energy storage system (BESS), secured planning approval in November 2022. Meanwhile, Cefn Solar Park, boasting a 9.9MW solar capacity alongside its 10MW BESS, received the green light in March 2023. Construction is set to commence imminently.
Together, these solar sites will deliver a total capacity of 15MWp, with a portion directly supplying Five Fords’ operations. Surplus electricity will be allocated to other Dŵr Cymru facilities, further expanding the company’s renewable energy footprint.
Beyond clean energy generation, the agreement also encompasses critical grid infrastructure upgrades at Five Fords. These enhancements, led by Dŵr Cymru, will fortify power reliability and resilience, ensuring a stable supply of electricity as the utility company advances its sustainability commitments.
Andrew Dixon, Head of Energy Efficiency at Dŵr Cymru, underscored the deal’s significance, highlighting that the power generated from Innova’s solar farms will contribute approximately 3% of the company’s total annual electricity consumption. This transition will drive substantial cost savings while reinforcing Dŵr Cymru’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
With four decades of clean energy secured, this partnership signals a definitive shift toward decarbonization within Welsh Water’s infrastructure. As Innova and Dŵr Cymru join forces to harness solar power at scale, this agreement sets a compelling precedent for utility providers integrating renewable energy into core operations.
Andrew Peyman, Head of Energy Sales at Innova, said:
“This PPA is a fantastic achievement for Innova and Dwr Cymru and is the culmination of a great team effort between the companies. The PPA will not only provide Dwr Cymru with a supply of locally sourced renewable electricity and long-term price certainty, but the agreement ensures that Innova will be able to secure suitable funding for the construction of the Wrexham and Cefn projects. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of the PPA as we head into 2025 and beyond.”
Andrew Dixon, Head of Energy Efficiency at Dwr Cymru, said: “This Power Purchase Agreement, and subsequent renewable energy developments, will make significant reductions in Welsh Water’s net energy costs and carbon emissions. The generation will be equivalent to around 3% of Welsh Water’s annual electricity use – or around 4,500 homes. This project is a key milestone for our journey to net zero carbon emissions and we look forward to working with Innova during project construction.”