Today, Enel Green Power North America and Wellington Management announced they agreed to a 10-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). Thus, this deal will consist of an 11 MW portion of the energy delivered to the grid by Enel Green Power’s Rockhaven wind project.
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About the VPPA
Accordingly, the arrangement, which is still subject to definitive agreements, covers approximately 48 GWh of wind energy annually. Also, it covers the associated renewable energy certificates (RECs); which indeed, are equivalent to avoiding 30,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.
Thus, under the agreed terms, the clean energy contracted for Wellington Management could be equal to or exceed the electricity needs for all of Wellington’s US corporate offices. Also, for the residential electricity usage of more than 2,200 employees in the US.
Indeed, Enel Green Power’s 140 MW Rockhaven wind project is currently under construction in Carter and Murray Counties in Oklahoma. Besides, Enel expects the project to achieve commercial operation by the end of 2021.
Reception in Wellington Management and Enel Green Power NA
In this sense, Wellington Management CEO Jean Hynes said; “Our collaborative research partnership with Woodwell Climate Research Center underscores the importance of limiting carbon emissions to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Thus, we are pleased to partner with Enel Green Power on this forward-thinking initiative. Particularly since it will help bring enough new renewable energy online; specifically, to match our US employees’ total office and home electricity usage.”
According to Wellington Management and Enel Green Power NA, this deal represents an innovative model for corporate renewable energy buyers. Thus, it enables them to address the new, more decentralized nature of post-COVID operations; particularly, as many workers shift from office to remote work.
The agreement also underscores how Wellington Management will continue to move toward deploying 100% renewable energy. This, accordingly to its corporate operations in all available markets by 2022.
Thus, Georgios Papadimitriou, Head of Enel Green Power in the US and Canada, said; “As more companies adopt long-term remote work models post-pandemic, their electricity usage will inherently shift from a centralized office to their employees’ homes. This progressive, first-of-its-kind partnership with Wellington demonstrates how businesses can evolve their sustainability planning to meet the needs of this new operational landscape.”