Learn more about power purchase agreements

In recent years, corporations have set new records for clean energy purchased worldwide—but we still need to do better in order to meet our Paris Agreement targets. A power purchase agreement can help your organization become a leader in the fight against climate change by helping Canada transition to renewable energy.

Power purchase agreements (PPAs) enable organizations across Canada to contract directly with renewable energy project developers in Alberta’s deregulated market. In other words, PPAs help companies procure renewable power from a specific wind farm or solar array that they helped get off the ground.

Organizations sign PPAs to shrink their carbon footprint and tell a compelling, verifiable sustainability story. With the right expertise to mitigate risk, PPAs can also act as a hedge against volatile energy prices and provide insulation from rising power costs.

What are PPAs?

PPAs are financial agreements between an energy buyer and a renewable energy project developer. In these contracts, the buyer guarantees the developer a fixed price for energy from a project that hasn’t been built yet, such as a wind farm or a solar array. For this fixed price, the buyer receives renewable energy certificates (RECs) from the project. PPAs are long-term contracts that can last 10 to 15 years. Currently, most contracts span about 10 years.

With a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA), energy does not physically flow from the renewable project to the buyer. Instead, the project sells its energy into the wholesale power grid and the buyer continues to procure power from its utility as usual.

How does pricing work?

PPAs are inherently risky—depending on power pool prices in the market where the project is located, the buyer might win or lose money on the deal. But there are various ways to mitigate that risk. Contact us at business@bullfrogpower.com to learn which risk mitigation strategies will benefit your business.

With a PPA, one party will pay the other the difference between the wholesale energy price and the predetermined PPA price. If energy prices are lower than the PPA price, the buyer will pay the developer; but if energy pool prices are higher than the PPA price, the developer will pay the buyer. In either case, the buyer earns renewable energy certificates and the right to say that they’re powered by renewable energy.

How Bullfrog helps

Bullfrog Power is Canada’s leading green energy provider. Our team can help your organization evaluate its energy needs and determine if a PPA is the best fit.

If you choose to procure renewable energy with Bullfrog’s PPA solutions, we can help you:

Select the best project for your needs

• Every project has its own benefit and risk profile, depending on geographic location, design elements, and whether it’s a wind or solar project.
• Bullfrog’s database of projects compares the relative risk and reward of each, calculates their expected economic value in various scenarios, and gives you the information you need to determine which one will best meet your renewable energy goals.

Assemble buying groups

• Most Canadian-based organizations don’t have the electricity load to sign a PPA alone.
• Bullfrog will assemble buying groups to match the load of the renewable energy project.

Run RFPs

• While our database has a full list of advanced-stage projects, Bullfrog will craft an RFP based on a full understanding of your goals if your organization’s policies require one.
• We will leverage our deep connections with the developer community to maximize RFP response.
• Bullfrog will provide a final list of recommendations so your organization can select the best project to meet your objectives.

Structure deals

• Bullfrog will structure and review deals before your organization signs with the project.
• We have the expertise to help you manage risks inherent in these contracts.

To find out how a PPA could benefit your organization, contact us at business@bullfrogpower.com.