Frasers Property Commits to Clean Power with Solar Farm Agreement in Wales

Frasers Property UK has signed a new corporate power purchase agreement that will bring clean electricity from a 27 megawatt solar farm in Wales directly to its business parks in the Midlands and South East. The agreement, secured in partnership with real estate management firm MAPP, marks another step forward in Frasers’ long-term commitment to sustainability and its ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The solar farm, situated near Llanedi in South Wales, will supply renewable energy to multi-tenant commercial buildings. The setup not only benefits Frasers Property itself but also offers tangible value to its corporate clients operating within these parks. Clean energy, delivered directly, means reduced reliance on the national grid and a lower carbon footprint across the board.

Frasers Property is aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across all areas it directly controls by 2030. Within this target, the company has pledged to cut its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 61 per cent and reduce Scope 3 emissions by 46 per cent over the same timeframe. These are ambitious goals, but the company says they are necessary and achievable, provided the proper infrastructure and partnerships are in place.

Frasers Property UK’s sustainability director, Jeremy Parsons, said: “Our focus for this year has been to follow through and deliver on our SBTi carbon commitments, most importantly reducing our emissions on single and multi-let buildings. This new initiative, in collaboration with MAPP, marks another step toward our targets, and we’re pleased to deliver a future-proof energy solution for our assets.

“The CPPA with MAPP provides our occupiers with green-sourced electricity at a discount to market rate. This gives Frasers Property a competitive advantage as a sustainable real estate investor-developer-manager.”

As of now, all electricity used in landlord-managed spaces across Frasers’ portfolio comes from renewable sources. This is part of a broader trend that has seen solar power take a dominant position in the global energy transition. In 2023 alone, around 75 per cent of all new renewable energy capacity worldwide came from solar installations. At the same time, corporate funding for the solar sector rose sharply, climbing 42 per cent compared to the previous year.

The shift is not just global, it's measurable in data. Research published by BloombergNEF shows that large businesses entered into power purchase agreements for 46 gigawatts of wind and solar energy capacity in 2023. That figure represents a 12 per cent increase on the previous year and signals a growing appetite for direct access to renewable power sources.

But progress has been slower in the UK. According to Energy UK, adoption of corporate PPAs remains low due to concerns about pricing volatility and the financial risk associated with long-term energy contracts. Many companies remain cautious, despite growing pressure to decarbonise their operations and supply chains.

Additionally, businesses have raised concerns about the current system of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin, or REGOs. Critics argue that these certificates often fail to provide clear, credible proof that companies are genuinely sourcing renewable electricity. Calls for reform are growing louder, with many organisations demanding a more transparent framework that withstands scrutiny.

Some UK businesses are taking matters into their own hands. Companies like Marstons, the pub chain and brewer, as well as data centre operator Telehouse, have recently announced innovative power agreements that go beyond traditional models. These deals are designed to provide a clearer link between clean energy supply and usage, while also offering protection from the uncertainties of energy markets.

For Frasers Property UK, the new solar farm agreement is more than a climate-conscious decision; it is a strategic move that combines environmental responsibility with long-term energy security. In a market where reputation, resilience and regulation increasingly intersect, this type of forward-thinking investment may soon become the norm rather than the exception.