PPAs: a key lever for the energy transition in Europe
In a moment when energy procurement has become a fundamental pillar of the European industrial strategy, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are emerging as a key solution to boost the competitiveness of corporate buyers and a lever to help them advancing the decarbonization of their energy supply.
This was emphasized by Francesca Piazza, Director of Power Markets Europe at Lightsource bp, during the webinar ‘Contracting renewables for the future: Innovative structures and hybrid PPAs’, organised in collaboration with Solarplaza.
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Stable long-term pricing while supporting sustainability goals
“The PPA market in Europe will continue to consolidate in the medium to long term driven by competitive costs and the growing opportunities for hybridisation,” Piazza stated. “These contracts provide corporate buyers with stable long-term pricing while supporting their sustainability goals, helping to create a clear competitive advantage for them.”
Among the existing structures, the expert highlighted the benefits of hybrid PPAs. “This type of contract leverages on the complementarity between solar and wind energy enhancing renewable generation throughout the day and optimise grid use. This contributes to a more cost-effective and sustainable energy system.” She also noted that “there are innovative structures such as a multi-buyer PPA or hybrid industrial self-consumption solutions, which allow a new profile of energy buyers to enter the PPA market.”
A proven long-term strategic partner
During her presentation, she also highlighted Lightsource bp’s track record in building long-term strategic partnerships with energy buyers across multiple regions. In 2024, the company reached a significant milestone by securing 10 Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) totalling 1.3 GW across Europe, the Americas, and APAC.
“Our team of experts tailors each solution to the customers’ needs, offering flexible structures that combine innovation with delivery capabilities and sustainability with long-term value” she added. “Currently, we are offering renewable energy PPAs linked to our projects in Southern Europe and the UK which will support industrial competitiveness and foster local economic growth, while continuing to drive the deployment of renewables in these key markets,” she concluded.
Lightsource bp’s diversified portfolio creates immediate opportunities for energy buyers across EMEA. Currently, we have made a 500MW utility-scale solar and storage portfolio available for power purchase agreements in the Iberian region and 50MW utility-scale solar available in the UK.
