UrbanChain, a clean energy technology company that operates Europe’s first private energy market, has signed a 15-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with AMPYR Distributed Energy for the long-term supply of surplus renewable electricity generated by AMPYR’s solar installations across the UK.
The agreement represents a major step toward expanding access to traceable, privately traded renewable energy while creating a stable and predictable revenue stream for renewable energy producers.The transaction was originated and structured by energy consultancy SoWatt and serves as the first deal completed under the newly formalized commercial partnership between UrbanChain and SoWatt.
Together, the companies aim to create more opportunities for businesses to access long-term renewable electricity contracts while supporting the continued growth of distributed energy generation across the UK.The agreement covers an initial supply volume of 3 GWh of clean electricity during its first year, with the potential for significant expansion as AMPYR Distributed Energy continues to grow its portfolio of solar assets.
Through the partnership, electricity generated by AMPYR’s renewable energy systems will be connected directly with corporate energy users sourced by SoWatt, allowing energy to be traded more efficiently and transparently.A key feature of the arrangement is the removal of traditional intermediaries that often exist within energy markets.
By directly matching renewable energy generation with corporate demand, the model helps reduce costs, improve transparency, and ensure that electricity is supplied to customers whose consumption patterns, pricing requirements, and geographical locations align closely with the available renewable generation.The agreement is being delivered through UrbanChain’s proprietary eChain platform, which enables electricity generation and demand to be matched on a half-hourly basis.
This approach allows renewable energy produced by solar installations to be aligned more closely with actual consumption patterns, creating a more efficient and traceable energy supply chain. The system is designed to ensure that renewable energy generated by AMPYR’s assets can be connected directly to businesses seeking clean power.
The contract also incorporates a pay-as-received structure. Under this model, any electricity generated that is not directly matched with customer demand will still be fully purchased by UrbanChain. This provides AMPYR Distributed Energy with greater certainty regarding revenue streams while ensuring customers continue to receive a reliable supply of renewable electricity.
To support long-term stability, the 15-year agreement includes pricing mechanisms such as cap-and-collar protections. These features help balance risk between energy producers and customers by providing a degree of protection against significant market fluctuations while maintaining flexibility over the lifetime of the contract.
Such structures are increasingly important as renewable energy developers seek revenue certainty to support investment decisions, while corporate buyers look for ways to manage exposure to volatile wholesale electricity prices.The transaction also demonstrates how UrbanChain’s expanding partner network is helping to accelerate the development of private renewable energy markets.
The newly formalized partnership with SoWatt is expected to facilitate additional agreements of a similar nature, enabling more UK businesses to secure long-term access to renewable electricity through tailored private market arrangements.John Behan, Chief Executive Officer of AMPYR Distributed Energy, described the agreement as an important milestone in the company’s strategy of developing and operating distributed energy assets supported by long-term contracted revenues.
He noted that improving certainty around the value of exported electricity helps support continued investment in onsite renewable energy generation while delivering attractive long-term returns. He also highlighted that access to innovative digital energy marketplaces broadens the company’s customer reach and helps maximize the value of the clean electricity it produces, contributing to the transition toward a more decentralized and resilient energy system.
Charlie Parry, Chief Development Officer at UrbanChain, emphasized the company’s rapid growth and expanding presence across sectors including electric vehicle charging infrastructure, data centers, and long-term private energy markets. He stated that the future of clean energy lies not simply in supplying electricity but in creating connected systems that address customer priorities such as cost management, carbon reduction, energy traceability, and resilience.
According to Parry, partnerships such as the one with SoWatt enable UrbanChain to scale its operations more efficiently while delivering greater value to customers.Henry Fordham, Director at SoWatt, highlighted the importance of working with established renewable energy developers such as AMPYR Distributed Energy, which continues to expand a high-quality portfolio of onsite generation assets.
He noted that UrbanChain’s technology platform plays a critical role in enabling a more direct relationship between renewable energy generation and demand, making large-scale implementation of such agreements possible. Fordham added that SoWatt’s role involves bringing together the right partners and creating commercial structures that benefit both energy generators and end users.
He described the agreement as an example of how the energy market is evolving toward more direct, transparent, and efficient models of renewable energy trading, with significant potential for future growth as demand for long-term clean energy solutions continues to increase.
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