IONITY, Europe's leading high-power electric vehicle (EV) charging network, has partnered with Pinergy, the energy transition company, as its energy service provider (ESP) in Ireland. The Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) will see Pinergy supply renewable electricity to IONITY's Irish charging infrastructure, covering 48 ultra-fast charging points across 7 locations on the national road network.
The agreement forms part of Pinergy's Guarantee of Origin offering, which enables organisations to purchase electricity generated from wind or solar farms in Ireland that is feeding directly into the national grid. IONITY's Irish operations will be supplied with approximately six million kWh of renewable electricity annually, sourced from a wind farm in Co. Laois owned and operated by Lirion Power.
IONITY is a high-powered charging (HPC) specialist, operating over 800 sites across 24 European countries, all of which use 100% renewable energy.
In Ireland, IONITY's charging hubs are located on the country's major motorways, offering drivers ultra-fast charging at up to 350kW, enabling most vehicles to charge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes. IONITY’s Irish estate includes the largest ultra-rapid EV charging site in the country, its flagship site at Charlestown on the M50, and the company plans to further expand its Irish network over the coming years.
“30% of Ireland’s private car fleet will be electric by 2030, if the government’s Climate Action Plan is successful,” comments Andreas Atkins, head of UK&I, IONITY. “That’s much more than encouraging consumers to buy electric. We need to provide a charging experience that reminds drivers why they went electric in the first place. For both consumers and the site partners that deliver that charging, credibility matters.
“Working with Pinergy guarantees renewable power for Irish drivers through a local partner that they can trust. As we continue to expand access to ultra-fast charging in Ireland, our combined capabilities will give EV drivers an experience that encourages them to make lower-carbon choices every day."
As Ireland's EV fleet continues to grow, operators of charging infrastructure at this scale require a reliable, renewable energy supply that can meet significant and increasing electricity demand. The 5.7 GWh covered under this agreement is equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of approximately 1,400 Irish households.
Daire Keating, Chief Commercial Officer at Pinergy, said: "We are delighted to partner IONITY on their renewable energy provision in Ireland. IONITY plays a significant role in the country's EV infrastructure, providing drivers with premium and convenient high-power charging capability needed for long-distance travel on Irish roads and connects Ireland into the wider European EV charging ecosystem. This is a partnership we are really proud to be part of, and we look forward to supporting IONITY as their Irish network continues to grow."
Donal O’Sullivan, CEO at Lirion Power commented that “We are delighted to be working with Pinergy on this partnership to generate the wind energy required to power the IONITY EV charging network. Our wind farm in Co. Laois is part of our growing portfolio of Irish operating wind assets, which we are also exploring the potential to hybridise with solar and battery storage to maximise the existing grid infrastructure already in place. Partnerships like this reflect our focus on working with large energy users and corporates across Ireland to help them decarbonise their operations, while supporting the country’s transition to cleaner, more secure renewable energy.”
The IONITY partnership is a significant addition to Pinergy's growing CPPA portfolio. To date, Pinergy has secured corporate power purchase agreements for more than 300 million kilowatt hours of annual Irish wind generation under its Guarantee of Origin offering, with demand expected to grow substantially as more organisations look to underpin their operations with traceable, Irish-sourced renewable electricity.