Power NI And Simple Power In First-Of-Its-Kind Power Purchase Agreement

Simple Power, a leading wind energy company and Northern Ireland’s biggest electricity retailer, Power NI, have announced a powerful working partnership which sees the electricity company purchase power generated by Simple Power’s single wind turbines across Northern Ireland.  The contract term extends for fifteen years.

Signing a first-of-its-kind partnership for a medium wind energy company in Northern Ireland sees Simple Power committing to generate 50 megawatts of clean, renewable electricity for distribution by Power NI – enough to power the equivalent of around 50,000 homes.

The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) framework covers all of Simple Power’s 200 medium scale single wind turbines which it is installing across Northern Ireland over the next five years and represents a major milestone for wind energy in the region.

“Today’s announcement is an important milestone not only for Simple Power and Power NI but for the landowners, the local community, political leaders and many others in Northern Ireland who have continued to support wind energy development.” said Paul Carson, CEO of Simple Power.   “Our power purchase agreement with Power NI helps towards Northern Ireland’s renewable energy target of 40% by 2020.”

Stephen McCully, Power NI’s Managing Director commented: “We welcome the partnership with Simple Power and their highly experienced local team.  This relationship helps Power NI build on our strong links with both the farming and agricultural sector and is a pivotal alliance in ensuring Northern Ireland has a more secure energy future.”

Paul Carson added: “Our partnership with Power NI not only meets demands for Northern Ireland’s renewable energy generation now and in the future, it is also benefitting the local economy by creating a strong local workforce to support this new green economy.  Medium scale wind development, in the form of the single wind turbines we develop, also supports the rural economy by enabling farmers and landowners to participate in renewable generation.  The agreement with Power NI offered the best commerical terms for Simple Power providing access to the wholesale electricity market.”

Power NI is the biggest electricity retailer in Northern Ireland, supplying almost 700,000 home, farms and businesses.