Innova Renewables Signs 40-Year Solar Power Purchase Agreement with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water in the UK
A 40-Year Corporate PPA for Wales’ Water Sector
Wastewater treatment plants are among the most energy-intensive industrial facilities. In Europe alone, the sector accounts for approximately 0.8% of total energy demand—a figure set to rise as population growth and increasing pollution levels drive up treatment requirements.
How can this energy burden be reduced? One answer lies in long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). A prime example is the recently signed 40-year Corporate PPA between Innova Renewables and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, the utility provider serving most of Wales and parts of western England.
Under this agreement, the Five Fords treatment plant—serving over 130,000 people—will partially meet its electricity needs with solar power from nearby photovoltaic farms.
Energy Demand in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Water treatment facilities have a continuous need for both electrical and thermal energy. A plant serving around 120,000 people typically consumes about 4 GWh of electricity annually. However, their structural characteristics make them ideal candidates for energy efficiency improvements and renewable integration. Many treatment sites are well-suited for on-site renewable energy generation.
Five Fords has been on this path for years. In 2014, Dŵr Cymru outlined its 2015-2020 corporate plan, identifying strategies to maximize energy efficiency. This effort culminated in the creation of the Five Fords Energy Park, a project integrating combined heat and power (CHP) systems, biogas injection, solar, wind, and hydropower. Today, this initiative supplies about 25% of the plant’s energy needs, with the remainder sourced from certified renewable electricity.
The Solar PPA Between Innova and Dŵr Cymru
The new 40-year PPA marks another milestone in Five Fords’ sustainability journey. The energy will come from Innova’s Wrexham and Cefn solar farms. Planning permission for Wrexham Solar Park was granted in November 2022, followed by approval for Cefn Park in 2023. Construction on both sites is set to begin soon.
Together, these solar farms will have a combined capacity of 15 MWp. A portion of their electricity production will be allocated to Five Fords’ wastewater treatment processes, with surplus power distributed across other Dŵr Cymru sites.
As part of the agreement, Dŵr Cymru is also upgrading its internal grid infrastructure at Five Fords to enhance reliability and strengthen its power supply.
“This PPA is a fantastic achievement for both Innova and Dŵr Cymru. It represents the culmination of strong teamwork between our companies,” said Andrew Peyman, Head of Energy Sales at Innova. The agreement, he added, “not only provides Dŵr Cymru with locally sourced renewable electricity and long-term price certainty but also enables us to secure the necessary funding for the construction of the Wrexham and Cefn projects.”
