A property investor and developer has bought a significant stake in a new co-operative wind farm.
Bruntwood has purchased a 42.4% share in the site at Kirk Hill in Ayrshire, Scotland.
The company, which has commercial properties in and around Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cambridge, will now source 80% of its annual energy needs, covering Bruntwood’s own offices and shared spaces, directly from the wind farm.
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Unify Energy, Bruntwood’s energy supply business, has become a partner to a new co-operative formed to supply the wind farm that includes both households and businesses.
The firm will supply businesses with their green energy from the wind farm, with E.ON Next, Your Co-Op Energy and SO Energy set to supply domestic consumers.
Bruntwood said the wind farm, which is being developed by Ripple Energy, is now the largest consumer-owned wind farm in the UK.
Chris Oglesby, CEO of Bruntwood, said: "Bruntwood was the first commercial property company in the UK to sign up to the 2030 World GBC Net Zero target and this investment will provide a huge step in us reaching our goals.
"We recognise the significant impact our buildings have on the environmental performance of our cities, largely through their energy consumption.
"Our portfolio in Manchester, for example, accounts for 0.6% of the city’s emissions once you also include our customer’s energy use. Sourcing power from Kirk Hill will make a major dent into this.
"In helping our cities take a big step forward in their own net zero journeys, we’re also giving customers the opportunity to minimise their emissions and some protection from the inflationary pressures on energy prices through greater stability."
