Energy transition experts, SmartestEnergy, has partnered with OurCoop on a ten-year Corporate Purchase Power Agreement to deliver renewable electricity to retail stores, community sites and more.
The agreement was originally signed last year with Central Co-op, prior to it merging with Midcounties Co-operative in January 2026, which created OurCoop.
The deal secures stable, 100% renewable electricity for over 400 sites across five independent co-operative societies across the UK, representing roughly 20% of Central Co-op’s energy needs at the time of signing.
The deal will supply up to 56GWh of green electricity annually and demonstrates how smaller and mid-sized organisations can now access the benefits of long-term renewable solutions once reserved for large corporates.
The CPPA involved a collaborative procurement approach in which five independent co-ops came together to purchase energy collectively, unlocking a large, long-term renewable contract. It highlights how co-operatives driven by ethical values can “use their collective strength to deliver benefits for members, customers and communities,” SmartestEnergy said.
The agreement ensures long-term, traceable renewable electricity across hundreds of locations, marking “a foundational step in decarbonising the wider OurCoop energy portfolio and accelerating renewable procurement.”
Paul Lockwood (left), head of procurement and net zero at OurCoop, said: “Our green energy goals are ambitious, which is why we needed an energy partner that could handle a large project but still understand the unique needs of hundreds of different sites.
“By uniting five co-ops to purchase energy together, we gained better value, more certainty on where our green energy supply comes from, and a practical way to accelerate our net zero progress.”
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