How Oil Companies Can Decarbonize Through PPA Contracts

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) represent a transformative strategic mechanism for oil companies, enabling the achievement of environmental sustainability objectives while securing long-term price stability and competitive energy costs.

The global energy transition is gaining unprecedented momentum. According to Bloomberg NEF’s latest analysis, clean energy investments surged by 17% in 2023, reaching $1.77 trillion, with renewable energy initiatives commanding over $600 billion of total capital allocation.

This paradigm shift is catalyzed by influential market players, including multinational oil corporations, diversifying their energy portfolios beyond traditional wind and solar investments to include emerging technologies such as hydrogen.

Industry leader Shell has demonstrated remarkable progress in its environmental stewardship, having already achieved 60% of its ambitious target to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2016 levels. The corporation has earmarked $10-15 billion for low-carbon energy solutions through 2025, underscoring its commitment to sustainable transformation.

Petrobras’s strategic vision for 2024-2028 reflects similar environmental consciousness, with 11% of its substantial $102 billion budget designated for low-carbon initiatives, emphasizing renewable energy deployment across its operations.

In parallel, Ecopetrol, in 2021, laid out an ambitious roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with interim milestones including a 25% emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 2019 levels and the integration of 1,000 MW of next-generation renewable energy capacity.

“Major oil corporations are strategically embedding energy transition initiatives into their operational frameworks, driven by imperatives to minimize greenhouse gas emissions through clean energy adoption,” says  Lina Beltrán, Commercial Manager at Atlas Renewable Energy.

These initiatives, she elaborates, are intended to “enhance global market competitiveness, strengthen corporate sustainability credentials, and ensure robust energy security.”

PPA: The Path to Decarbonization and Competitiveness

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy are an efficient solution for companies to reduce their carbon emissions. By establishing long-term contracts with fixed prices, which are often more attractive than average daily energy market rates, companies can lock in energy costs.

Bloomberg’s analysis indicates that PPA adoption has demonstrated a compound annual growth rate of 33% from 2015 to 2023, representing substantial capital deployment in energy transition initiatives. The market achieved unprecedented scale in 2023, with solar and wind agreements reaching 46 GW—a 12% increase from the previous record of 41 GW in 2022.

This acceleration is attributed to improved macroeconomic conditions in key markets and heightened corporate commitment to renewable energy adoption. The Americas dominated the landscape, accounting for approximately 45% (20.9 GW) of corporate PPAs, followed by Europe at 33% (15.4 GW).

Beltrán highlights two complementary PPA frameworks that are gaining traction among oil companies. The first involves on-site renewable energy generation, where companies install generation capacity within their operational footprint, directly integrated with their infrastructure.

“This model presents compelling economics for oil companies, offering competitive rates compared to grid-sourced power, primarily due to the elimination of transmission and distribution costs,” Beltrán explains.

However, she acknowledges a key constraint: “Physical space limitations often prevent companies from installing sufficient capacity to meet their entire energy requirements.”

For such scenarios, Beltrán advocates for the virtual PPA model, enabling companies to source renewable energy from remote generation facilities through the grid.

“This framework provides oil companies with a scalable approach to renewable energy integration, typically structured as long-term agreements that offer price stability and predictable cost trajectories,” elaborates Atlas Renewable Energy’s Commercial Manager.

Atlas, a Leading Partner

It’s important to note that a PPA is not a standardized contract but an agreement tailored to the specific energy needs of the consuming companies. It can vary based on the volume of energy contracted, the term, and the currency used, which may be local or in U.S. dollars

Atlas Renewable Energy’s market position is underpinned by its sophisticated technical capabilities and robust financial infrastructure in PPA development. The firm’s portfolio encompasses 28 renewable energy projects with an aggregate capacity exceeding 8.4 GW.

“In addition to our experience in the development, financing, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects, we are known for bringing innovation to our offerings and providing customized solutions for each of our clients. In this way, we can add value to oil companies through risk management for the development, construction, and operation of their renewable energy projects. We have a broad portfolio of projects under development, which presents an opportunity for oil companies to begin or continue entering this field. Additionally, we have strong financing capabilities,” emphasizes Beltrán.

In the Colombian market specifically, Beltrán highlights Atlas Renewable Energy’s strategic positioning with a solar project portfolio approaching 2 GW in capacity. “This substantial presence enables oil companies to evaluate and select optimal projects aligned with their specific competitive parameters,” she explains.

Conclusion

The integration of renewable energy into industrial decarbonization strategies represents a growing trend across sectors, with oil companies emerging as key participants in this transformation. Industry leaders are increasingly establishing renewable energy integration targets within their operational frameworks.

Within this context, Power Purchase Agreements emerge as an optimal strategic tool, delivering not only environmental benefits through clean energy procurement but also offering compelling economic advantages through competitive pricing compared to spot market rates. Moreover, these long-term agreements provide robust hedging against market volatility.

Atlas Renewable Energy, leveraging its extensive expertise in renewable energy development and deployment, is well-positioned as a strategic partner for oil companies seeking to effectively execute sophisticated decarbonization strategies.

This article was created in partnership with Castleberry Media. At Castleberry Media, we are dedicated to environmental sustainability. By purchasing Carbon Certificates for tree planting, we actively combat deforestation and offset our CO₂ emissions threefold.