The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Melbourne based renewable energy retailer Flow Power for a blend of solar and wind from projects in New South Wales.
Flow Power announced on Tuesday that UTS had signed an agreement to secure a blend of renewable electricity from both the 720-megawtt (MW) New England Solar and the 165.5 MW Gullen Range Wind Farm.
The agreement will see Flow Power provide a virtual link to specific, traceable renewable projects, as compared to an aggregated mix of renewables from unspecified sources.
UTS will subsequently purchase 60,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) from New England Solar’s 400 MW first phase and another 25,000 MWh from the Gullen Range Wind Farm.
“This agreement showcases UTS as a leader in sustainability for Australian universities,” said Sarah Cork, Flow Power wholesale & renewables product manager.
“The university isn’t just buying renewable energy. It’s helping redefine the model for how the education sector can meaningfully contribute to Australia’s energy transition.
“By connecting customers, like UTS, to Flow Power’s portfolio of owned and affiliated renewable projects, we can drive the uptake of renewable energy to deliver impactful environmental, financial and community benefits.”
The PPA also includes the purchase of Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) created by the two projects, ensuring that every megawatt hour claimed as renewable is directly linked to measurable, independently verified generation.
UTS has committed to achieving net zero and becoming climate positive by 2029 and was the first Australian university to sign a Climate Emergency Declaration, in recognition of its responsibility to equip others with the knowledge to solve shared global challenges.
“UTS has long been a leader in clean energy and sustainability,” said Professor Andrew Parfitt, UTS vice-chancellor and president.
“We were the first university in Australia to complete a power purchase agreement with a solar farm back in 2015 and an early adopter of on-site solar installations.
“Now, we’re taking the next step on our journey towards becoming the first Australian university to be climate positive by signing this renewable energy agreement.”
“Through this deal, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but also delivering cost savings that can be reinvested in our core mission of education and research at a time when every dollar counts.”
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Joshua S Hill
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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