New OVO onshore wind deal to power thousands of UK homes

• OVO announces it has signed PPAs with two subsidy free renewable generators, supporting new build onshore wind generation in the UK
• OVO aims to stimulate further growth in the renewable energy sector without the need for government subsidies, moving the UK further towards its net zero targets
• Support for Ambition Community Energy C.I.C will help build England’s tallest wind turbine
• The news follows Chris Skidmore MP’s Net Zero Review – recommending onshore wind as one of the fastest and lowest cost solutions to the rapid delivery of net zero

26th January 2023, London: OVO announces today that it has signed two new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with two new subsidy free onshore wind generators. The green energy supplier has signed contracts to buy renewable electricity from Genatec’s Pond Farm Wind project and Ambition Community Energy C.I.C.

Being built in Norfolk, OVO has signed a 3-year contract with Pond Farm which will power 740 homes annually with renewable wind energy. It has also signed a 2-year contract with Ambition Community Energy C.I.C. in Bristol which will power 3,400 homes annually with renewable energy from what will be England’s tallest wind turbine. 

To help tackle fuel poverty in the UK, all profit from Ambition Community Energy C.I.C. will flow to the local community via community led charity Ambition Lawrence Weston. The  Lawrence Weston region is amongst the 10% most deprived communities in the UK. 

The news follows OVO becoming the first supplier to commit £1m funding to specifically support subsidy free renewable energy, helping to incentivise small-scale, independent wind and solar farms by offering them an above market price for the electricity they generate. 

Steve Harris, VP of Energy, OVO said:

“We’re committed to supporting investment in renewable energy generation across the UK, striving to bring more renewables onto the grid and taking huge steps towards reaching net zero. I am delighted that our new PPA contract structure is supporting new independent onshore wind generation, as we believe this technology has a key role to play in accelerating the UK towards a fossil fuel free energy system.”

Ambition Lawrence Weston (Mark Pepper Development Manager) & Director of Ambition Community Energy C.I.C, said:

“We are delighted that Bristol based OVO are committing to our community owned energy onshore wind project and paying above market price for the power generated. This income will then deliver residents a written Community & Climate Action Plan that will support the most vulnerable residents living in Lawrence Weston as well as delivering community led projects that will regenerate the area.”

David Mack, Managing Director of Genatec, said:

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of UK subsidy free wind and are very excited to be working with OVO on our latest project at Pond Farm.”

OVO aims to stimulate further growth in the renewable energy sector where wind farms wouldn’t have been built without OVO’s support, moving the UK further towards its net zero targets. OVO launched Plan Zero, its sustainability strategy, in 2019 with the ambition of leading the transition to a zero carbon energy system and becoming a net zero business by 2035.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

[email protected] 

About OVO

OVO was founded in 2009 and redesigned the energy experience to be fair, effortless, green and simple for all customers. OVO was awarded Company of the Decade at the BusinessGreen Leaders’ Awards and has won multiple awards, including Innovation Project of the Year, for investing in the market leading technology, customer service operations and digital products to help customers cut their carbon emissions. OVO is on a mission through its sustainability strategy Plan Zero to tackle the most important issue of our time; the climate crisis, by bringing our customers with us on the journey towards zero carbon living. OVO Energy has committed to being a net zero carbon business and achieve bold science-based carbon reduction targets, while helping customers reduce their household emissions at the same time.