BCLP advises Energia Group on Microsoft venture as pair announce CPPA for new renewable energy in Ireland

Energia Group, one of Ireland’s leading and most innovative energy companies, has announced an agreement with Microsoft to provide new renewable wind and solar energy under a corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA). 

The announcement, as part of wider developments by Microsoft, will see the technology company support the development of onshore wind and solar renewable energy in Ireland and contribute close to 30% of the country’s corporate power purchase agreement target by 2030. 

Energia Group’s agreement with Microsoft means that they will be responsible for delivering a number of new renewable power projects that will supply renewable electricity to the grid to be purchased by Microsoft for their activities in Ireland. 

The BCLP deal team was led by Partner Barry Gross, Head of Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure, and Kenneth Addly, Associate Director in the Energy, Environment & Infrastructure Team. 

Partner Barry Gross said, “We are delighted to have been able to advise Energia Group on an arrangement that will sit at the forefront of the Irish renewable energy efforts and ambitions. This deal highlights the positive contribution that the data center industry is making to the vital development of renewable energy and we expect to continue to see similar deals occurring globally.”

Anita Pollin, General Counsel of Energia Group said, “At Energia Group we’ve set clear targets to promote Ireland’s energy transition and to facilitate the achievement of the government’s 2030 targets. This will be delivered through a range of different technologies and by expanding the route to market opportunities for these projects to maximize their collective benefit. Assisted by BCLP’s global experience of the CPPA market, this agreement with Microsoft represents a significant step towards the achievement of these objectives.”