BT to buy 50 per cent of Welsh Energy from new wind farm in Wales
£100 million power purchase deal supports construction of Mynydd Bwllfa site; investment welcomed by Welsh Government
BT is to purchase enough renewable energy from a new Welsh wind farm to match the power consumption of around 50 per cent of its operations in the nation, it was announced today.
The company will buy all the electricity generated by the new, nine-turbine Mynydd Bwllfa wind farm near Hirwaun in South Wales. The deal is worth around £100 million over the next 15 years.
The significant Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) supports the construction of the new wind farm, with building work by Pennant Walters (Mynydd Bwllfa) Ltd currently under way.
The site will provide enough electricity to match around 50 per cent of BT’s demand in Wales. BT is a major consumer of electricity, using around 110 Gigawatt hours (GWh) per annum in Wales.
Ann Beynon, BT Wales director, said: “It’s fantastic that around half of our Welsh infrastructure and estate will be matched with energy from renewable sources in Wales.
“BT is one of the UK’s biggest consumers of electricity, and demand for our digital services, including fibre broadband, means we have to keep innovating to meet our needs in an environmentally responsible way.
“As well as providing BT with long-term price certainty, this deal underpins the creation of a new wind farm for South Wales, and that supports long-term jobs and benefits for the local economy.
“At BT we use the power of communications to make a better world. We’re as committed to reducing our own carbon emissions as we are to providing products and services that help everyone live within the planet’s resources. We reduced carbon emissions from our own operations by 25.5 per cent globally during 2013/14.
“Our deal with Mynydd Bwllfa reinforces our commitment to make a positive contribution to society and the environment – and is a huge vote of confidence in Welsh renewable energy.”
The deal was today welcomed by the Welsh Government. Alun Davies, Minister for Natural Resources and Food, said: “I applaud BT for showing such leadership in sourcing its electricity from renewable and low carbon sources.
“BT’s commitment will help to secure long term jobs and continued energy generation at the Mynydd Bwllfa site and is the sort of action I am keen to encourage to help Wales achieve its green growth ambitions.”
BT’s sole supplier of renewable energy, npower, has worked closely with the company on the Mynydd Bwllfa project. BT has purchased renewable energy from npower since 2000 and started to source 100 per cent of its electricity in the UK from renewable energy after signing a new agreement with the supplier in 2012.
BT has also secured other PPA contracts, supporting the delivery of ‘New to the Planet’ renewable generation in Lancashire in addition to Wales, and matching 100 per cent of its power consumption in Scotland with energy from a Scottish Borders wind farm.
BT’s Better Future Report for 2013/14 demonstrates the company’s extensive work to put responsible and sustainable business at the heart of its operations. For further information visit www.bt.com/betterfuturereport
ENDS
Notes to editors
Better Future is BT’s commitment to use the power of communications to improve lives and ways of doing business – without it costing the earth. Better Future embeds responsible and sustainable business practice to build real growth and is rooted in what BT does best – bringing together our networks and technology with the expertise of our people to make a better world. Our Better Future programme focuses on three areas, connecting people digitally (Connected Society), using our skills and technology to help society support good causes (Improving Lives), and ensuring BT makes a net positive contribution to the environment (Net Good). For more information see www.bt.com/betterfuture
BT is a major consumer of electricity in the UK, using around 2 Terawatt hours (TWh) in 2013/14. It has reduced the energy needed to run its business for five consecutive years, saving more than £131 million in energy costs.
