Online retail giant Amazon has inked a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with Engie, marking a significant stride in its sustainability goals. The agreement increases Amazon's stake in the output from Ocean Winds' Moray West offshore wind farm in Scotland to 473MW, supporting the company's target to power all operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, five years ahead of its initial schedule.
The 882MW offshore wind farm, set to go online later this year, is situated in the Moray Firth in north-east Scotland. Ocean Winds is fast-tracking the development and construction process, aligning with Amazon's accelerated timeline for achieving its renewable energy objectives.
Amazon's commitment to environmental sustainability is further underscored by its announcement of 39 new renewable energy projects across Europe last year, contributing over 1GW of clean energy capacity to regional grids. This makes Amazon the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in Europe and the UK since 2021.
Lindsay McQuade, Director of Energy, EMEA, Amazon Web Services (AWS), highlighted the pivotal role of projects like Moray West in decarbonizing Amazon's operations and the UK grid. McQuade stated, “Transitioning to carbon-free energy sources is one of the most impactful ways to lower carbon emissions,” emphasizing Amazon's dedication to its Climate Pledge commitment to reach net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040.
Engie, a key player in renewable energy, signed 19 deals in various countries last year, expanding its CPPA portfolio to 7.3GW of clean energy capacity. Paulo Almirante, Engie Senior Executive Vice-President Renewables & Energy Management, noted that the Moray West CPPA aligns with the company's strategy to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral world.
The Moray West project is part of Ocean Winds' ambitious targets for 2025, aiming for 5-7GW of projects in operation or under construction and 5-10GW under advanced development. This agreement further strengthens Engie's position in CPPAs, showcasing the collaborative effort to achieve the UK's renewable deployment and net-zero economy objectives.
As of 2022, Amazon has made substantial contributions to renewable energy projects in the UK, generating an estimated £285m in investment between 2014 and 2022. The company's dedication to sustainable practices remains evident as it strives to achieve its 100% renewable energy goal and make a substantial impact on global carbon emissions.
