Circle K and EDF Renewables Ireland announce new solar energy agreement
Circle K, Ireland’s largest forecourt and convenience retailer, and renewable energy company, EDF Renewables Ireland, have announced details of a new corporate Power Purchase Agreement (cPPA).
Under the terms of the cPPA agreed between the two companies, three EDF Renewables Ireland solar farms in Wexford and Kilkenny will power all 168 sites within Circle K’s company owned network from October 2024, with the agreement to last until 2036. 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, reducing its carbon footprint and securing a long-term, stable price for renewable energy.
With a combined capacity of 17MW, Blusheens, Coolroe and Curraghmartin Solar Farms were among Ireland’s first operational solar farms when they were energised in March 2023. The agreement with EDF Renewables Ireland ensures that Circle K has access to a sustainable and secure source of electricity for a twelve-year period.
As well as its network of sites, from October 2024, Circle K will use the energy from the three solar farms to power its electric vehicle charging network. Circle K 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 Circle K’s own branded EV chargers following a €7 million investment announced last year, which will see Circle K branded EV chargers installed at 30 locations by 2025.
Welcoming the announcement, Ciara Foxton, Managing Director, Circle K Ireland, commented: “We are delighted to announce this agreement with EDF Renewables Ireland today. As a business, we are committed to implementing environmentally sustainable practices across our operations and 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*.
“Our company owned network of 168 locations serves the needs of 1.5 million customers weekly and for all of these locations to now be powered by 100% Irish renewable energy from October 2024 is significant for our business.
“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.”
Ryanne Burges, Director for Offshore and Ireland at EDF Renewables UK and Ireland, said: “We are pleased to have agreed our 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.”