ACCIONA Energy has signed a corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Australian energy company Viva Energy, to support its strategically important Geelong Refinery in Victoria.

20Feb - ACCIONA

Image: Mt. Gellibrand Wind Farm, in Victoria, owned by ACCIONA. Photo: Courtesy of ACCIONA.

Viva Energy supplies approximately one fourth of the Australia’s liquid fuel requirements and sells Shell products under license across the country.

Under the PPA, ACCIONA’s new 132MW wind farm at Mt Gellibrand, which is around an hour away from the Geelong facility, will supply power to the refinery. The PPA is expected to meet approximately one third of the refinery’s electricity load.

Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt said: “Access to reliable and affordable electricity is critical for our refining operations which need to operate continuously and be able to compete with large scale refineries overseas. Over the last few years the cost of electricity supply in Victoria has more than doubled and has become increasingly subject to pricing spikes due to weather and reliability events causing disruptions to generation and supply.”

ACCIONA Energy claims that internationally, it is increasing the sale of electricity to large organizations from its range of renewable energy generation. The company’s customer base includes variety of sectors like transport, telecommunications, infrastructure, industry, consumer goods and health services.

Currently, the company has more than 500 contracts in place.

Acciona Energy Australia managing director Brett Wickham said: “Companies like Viva Energy understand the value alternative energy supply solutions, such as this wind-backed corporate PPA, offer in reducing electricity price volatility and costs.

“We take a strategic approach to understanding the needs of commercial and industrial clients, and are pleased to be working with Viva Energy on this corporate PPA. We share their commitment towards greater energy productivity and the environmental benefits the wind farm brings.”

In February, ACCIONA announced that it will supply Telefónica with an estimated volume of renewable electricity of 345GWh in 2019.

Under the contract awarded to ACCIONA, the company will supply 72 points located in large-scale data processing facilities, offices and other centres of Telefónica in Spain.