Through Sustainability Roundtable’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB), Akamai Technologies, Teradyne and Wayfair signed an aggregate virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with BayWa re Americas for the renewable energy credits produced by the 135 MWAC Prairie Solar project in Champaign County, Illinois, which is being developed by the BayWa re Americas group and is expected to be commercially operational by the end of 2025.
Prairie Solar will have a significant impact in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region of Illinois, which is a particularly carbon-intensive network with only 32% low-carbon energy by 2023. Once operational, Prairie Solar will help reduce carbon emissions in this area, which is currently heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
By pooling their demand, Akamai, Teradyne and Wayfair overcome the challenge of modest energy charges that typically hinder independent procurement of utility-scale renewable energy. This buyer-aggregated approach, led by the NZCB, democratizes access to the financial and environmental benefits of utility-scale renewable energy, enabling procurement for a wider range of businesses.
“We are proud to be part of our second aggregated virtual power purchase agreement in North America,” said Anna Vinogradova, head of sustainability and ESG at Wayfair. “This project will help Wayfair make progress toward its Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction goals, aligned with our vision for a more sustainable future. Partnerships like the NZCB use collaboration to unlock ambitious opportunities for businesses to contribute to a cleaner environment.”
News item from the Sustainability Roundtable
