SmartestEnergy, a renewables-focused energy company, has signed a Contract for Difference (CfD) Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) with Thrive Renewables, a renewable energy investor, for the Whitelaw Brae project in the Scottish Borders
Fair Play Clean Energy Limited owns Whitelaw Brae, a joint venture between Thrive Renewables and TopCashback Group.
This marks Thrive Renewables’ largest onshore wind project to date, bringing together SmartestEnergy’s route-to-market capabilities with Thrive Renewables’ expertise in renewable generation. Once operational, the onshore wind farm will generate up to 149,400MWh of clean electricity per year.
A key factor for Thrive Renewables in appointing SmartestEnergy as its commercial partner for Whitelaw Brae is its experience managing transmission-connected assets, along with its competitive commercial offering and proven capability in managing market risk.
Will Russell, PPA development manager at SmartestEnergy, said, “Given its size and scale, Whitelaw Brae is an important project for SmartestEnergy and Thrive Renewables, but also Scotland’s renewable energy sector. The project is Thrive Renewables’ first transmission-connected asset, so they were looking to collaborate with an experienced partner with the flexibility and technical expertise to support its route-to-market requirements. We’re excited to have been chosen and to have the opportunity to build on our relationship with a long-standing partner on a new project.”
Monika Paplaczyk, investment director at Thrive Renewables, said, “We’re delighted with how seamless the process has been partnering with SmartestEnergy on our latest project together. Its experienced team has been working closely with us to deliver the agreement, providing us with the confidence that Whitelaw Brae has a strong route-to-market partner. Whitelaw Brae supports our company’s 5-year goal of doubling the generation capacity of our portfolio by 2028, whilst also benefiting the local community and enhancing nature on site.”
In addition to delivering clean power, the project will provide a community benefit fund of £285,000 a year, and Thrive Renewables is committed to offering the local community an opportunity to purchase a stake in the onshore wind farm. The project will also enhance biodiversity with native tree planting and the creation of a new network of footpaths across the site, which will form part of the River Tweed Trail.
The final period of construction is now underway at the Whitelaw Brae project site, located near Tweedsmuir, with energisation planned to start before the end of the year. Once operational, the project is expected to generate renewable electricity for at least 30 years.
