Enel Green Power’s new U.S. wind farm to supply renewable energy to Gap Inc.

Enel Green Power’s new U.S. wind farm to supply renewable energy to Gap Inc.

Enel, through its US-based renewable company Enel Green Power North America (EGPNA), has signed a 12-year virtual power purchase agreement (PPA)2 with apparel retailer Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), under which the latter will purchase the energy delivered to the grid by a 90 MW portion of Enel Green Power’s new Aurora1 wind project, currently in development in North Dakota. The wind energy supplied to Gap Inc. under the agreement is enough to power over 1,500 Gap Inc. retail stores, equivalent to around 50% of the electricity needs of the more than 3,300 stores operated by Gap Inc. worldwide.

“This partnership with Gap Inc. demonstrates how global brands are increasingly turning to us for our extensive expertise in creating flexible and customised solutions that address unique renewable energy needs,” said Antonio Cammisecra, Global Head of Enel Green Power. “With partnerships like this one, which create immediate shared returns while furthering emission reduction strategies, Enel Green Power once again reaffirms the strong bond between sustainability and value creation.”

The electricity output that Gap Inc. is purchasing from Aurora’s 90 MW section is expected to total approximately 374 GWh each year, equivalent to avoiding the emission of 253,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The agreement with Enel Green Power North America will help Gap Inc. reach its 2020 goal to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 23 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% compared to a 2015 baseline.

“We have a responsibility to reduce our climate impact. For Gap Inc., being a part of the climate solution means making strategic investments in clean energy generation. Today we have secured a path to achieving our 2020 goal, but we must do more. I’m proud to commit to renewable energy for 100 percent of our stores, headquarters and distribution centres globally by 2030,” said Art Peck, president and chief executive officer, Gap Inc.

Aurora, located in Williams and Mountrail counties in North Dakota, will have a total capacity of around 299 MW and, once operational, expected by the end of 2020, will be able to generate approximately 1.3 TWh annually, while avoiding the emission of around 880,000 tons of CO2 per year. The project is expected to start construction later this year.

This PPA is Enel Green Power North America’s 11th overall contract with a commercial and industrial customer and the second announcement of its kind in the last two months. In June the company announced the signing of a PPA with food and beverage company Mondelēz International for a 65 MW portion of the Roadrunner solar project under construction in Texas. Enel Green Power’s commercial and industrial customer portfolio now includes: Adobe, Anheuser-Busch, Bloomberg, Facebook, Gap Inc., GM, Google, Kohler, Mondelēz International, T-Mobile and Wynn Entertainment.