Schneider Electric has launched new services to assist businesses in the adoption of low-cost renewable energy through power purchase agreements (PPAs).
The energy management company is expanding its New Energy Opportunities (NEO) Network to connect Australian companies with resources to efficiently navigate the process of evaluating PPAs, and other renewables and cleantech options.
An online community of corporations, developers and solutions providers, the NEO Network gives members a forum to share insights, identify prospects and accelerate projects and provides access to exclusive global market intelligence.
More than 70 international organisations are already active in the NEO Network, including more than 15 other companies with footprints in Australia.
Schneider Electric energy and sustainability services senior vice-president Steve Wilhite said the array of technologies, contracting vehicles and market players could hinder companies.
“However, given the sharp incline of energy prices, organisations need to clear those barriers and act quickly,” Mr Wilhite said.
“Prices for wind and solar will continue to fall, and businesses will not only benefit from a financial perspective, but PPAs and similar transactions are ideal to push sustainability initiatives forward.”
VP of energy and sustainability services in Australia Brian Morris said the opportunity for savings is immense.
“According to the Clean Energy Council, renewable generation is expected to almost double from 2016 to 2020, giving companies a broad range of prospects,” he said.
“PPAs in particular have already delivered electricity cost savings between 10 and 50 per cent.”
Supported by the NEO Network, the new services include strategic project sourcing, negotiation and execution, including consultation on “club-type” or aggregated PPAs where two or more companies enter into a joint venture to purchase renewables at scale.
Schneider Electric is the world’s largest renewable energy and cleantech consultant to commercial, industrial and institutional (C&I) buyers, having advised on more than 50 percent of all corporate PPAs signed since 2016.
This includes the recent design and implementation of renewable energy agreements for Brown-Forman, Digital Realty and Kimberly-Clark.