28 Sep 2023

A second power purchase agreement (PPA) has been signed between Axpo and Sunnic Lighthouse GmbH, the Germany-based energy trading subsidiary of solar developer ENERPARC AG, it was announced.

From 1 October 2023, Sunnic will supply 38.4 gigawatt hours (GWh) of solar power a year to Axpo. This equates to the annual electricity needs of around 7,500 households and represents a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 22,000 tonnes a year.

Investment in renewable energies

Under the agreement, Sunnic Lighthouse will provide electricity to Axpo in a so-called ‘pay-as-forecast’ structure based on a forecast delivery schedule for each subsequent day. The solar power comes from a portfolio of several solar plants already on the grid in Germany and owned by parent company ENERPARC, with a total capacity of 39.8 megawatt peak (MWp). The PPA will run initially until 31 December 2027.

Sunnic Lighthouse will provide electricity to Axpo in a so-called ‘pay-as-forecast’ structure

Axpo Deutschland Managing Director Johannes Pretel said: "The successful negotiation of this second contract with Sunnic Lighthouse is testament to the relationship of trust between our two companies. The PPA was concluded smoothly and swiftly, saving time and costs on both sides. With Sunnic on board as a reliable partner we look forward to facilitating similar deals that ensure attractive conditions for ongoing investment in renewable energies."

Electricity supply contracts

Last year the two companies signed a contract for the direct marketing of around 35 GWH of electricity from the Büttel photovoltaic plant in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, which runs until 2032.

Sunnic Lighthouse Managing Director Arved von Harpe said: "As a flexibly positioned electricity trading company, we can offer our customers electricity supply contracts tailored to their requirements. In addition to long-term PPAs, we also offer medium-term PPAs for portfolios already connected to the grid. These have a wide variety of structures, from pay-as-forecast to annual hourly profiles or monthly band deliveries. Negotiating contracts with experienced and professional partners like Axpo is a great motivation and we look forward to continuing to cooperate with them.”