In a move to accelerate its Climate Positive Plan, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has secured a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Australian renewable energy retailer, Flow Power.
To achieve its climate positive goals, the agreement with Flow Power will provide a blend of renewable electricity from two projects in New South Wales (NSW) that closely align with UTS’s energy load profile on an annualised basis.
This unique PPA provides a virtual link to specific, traceable renewable projects, as opposed to an aggregated mix of renewables from unspecified sources.
Under the agreement, UTS will procure clean electricity from both New England Solar and Gullen Range Wind Farm, to power its Sydney campus facilities.
UTS has committed to purchasing 60,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) from ACEN Australia’s New England Solar project in northern NSW. The project’s 400-megawatt (MW) first stage has the capacity to power around 185,000 homes each year. It has already delivered more than $500,000 in community grants, with a further $7 million to be invested through ACEN’s Social Investment Program, alongside a commitment of an additional 1.5 per cent of the project’s value to First Nations participation and employment.
David Pollington, Managing Director at ACEN Australia, shares that this agreement reflects the momentum behind corporate and institutional demand for clean energy.
“By partnering with Flow Power and UTS, we’re not only delivering reliable renewable supply, but also supporting innovation and leadership in Australia’s energy transition. It’s a clear example of how collaboration across sectors can accelerate decarbonisation at scale,” he said.
The solar supply will be complemented by the purchase of 25,000 MWh of wind energy from the Gullen Range Wind Farm. The wind farm features 73 turbines spread across 22 kilometres and has a generation capacity of 165.5 MW in ideal conditions – enough to power more than 70,000 homes each day.
As part of the deal, UTS will also acquire the Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) created by the two projects, ensuring that each megawatt-hour claimed as renewable is fully traceable to the underlying assets.
Andrew Parfitt, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor at UTS, said the agreement builds on the university’s long history of clean energy leadership.
“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 onsite solar installations,” he said.
“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.”
Informed by RACE for 2030’s Green Wave research project, the agreement supports UTS’s ambition to reach net zero and become climate positive by 2029. The university’s climate positive framework goes beyond emissions neutrality, aiming to deliver carbon efficiency that contributes to climate repair.
In 2019, UTS became the first Australian university to sign a Climate Emergency Declaration, recognising its role in preparing future leaders to address global environmental challenges.
Sarah Cork, Wholesale and Renewables Product Manager at Flow Power, sees the deal as a demonstration of how large energy users can play an active role in the energy transition.
“This agreement showcases UTS as a leader in sustainability for Australian universities,” she said.
“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.”