SmartestEnergy and OurCoop partner on SMB-focused CPPA, enabling 100% renewable supply across 400 sites

SmartestEnergy has partnered with OurCoop on a 10-year Corporate Purchase Power Agreement (CPPA) to deliver renewable electricity to retail stores, funeral homes and community sites

10 February 2026 – SmartestEnergy, the company helping businesses navigate the energy transition, has partnered with OurCoop, the UK’s largest independent co-operative,  to deliver a 10-year CPPA.

The agreement was originally signed in 2025 with Central Co-op prior to it coming together with Midcounties Co-operative in January 2026, which created the new Society, OurCoop.

The deal secures stable, 100% renewable electricity for over 400 sites across five independent co-operatives societies across the UK, representing roughly 20% of Central Co-op’s energy needs at the time of signing*. The deal – sleeved by SmartestEnergy – 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 with SmartestEnergy. This partnership highlights how co-ops - driven by ethical values - can use their collective strength to deliver benefits for members, customers and communities.

SmartestEnergy acted as the sleeving intermediary, with generation provided by RWE. Together, they delivered a bespoke, flexible structure that supports five co-ops with different operational footprints and site sizes. The seamless implementation of the agreement reflects SmartestEnergy’s ability to balance the needs of both large and smaller portfolio components, accommodating a range of operational nuances.

At the time the agreement was signed, the deal played a central role in supporting Central Co-op’s legacy estate to reach its energy KPIs and its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-aligned ambition to become net zero by 2040. 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 across the enlarged Society.

Paul Lockwood, Head of Procurement & Net Zero, 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. SmartestEnergy worked like part of our own team to provide us with a step change solution and make the rollout smooth. 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.”

Robert Groves, CEO at SmartestEnergy said, “CPPAs have previously been reserved for large corporates but our partnership with OurCoop, shows that a different future is possible. By bringing together the buying power of independent co-ops through a flexible and accommodating model, we’ve created a way for small and mid-sized organisations to secure long-term, reliable renewable energy so they are similarly empowered to help the UK work towards its clean energy goals. We’re working to make it easier for businesses to navigate the complex energy market, and ensuring CPPAs are easier to access for institutions such as OurCoop.”

The uniqueness of this deal lies in its combination of scale, inclusivity and long-term vision. SmartestEnergy used its expertise to provide the benefits of large-scale PPAs – price stability, renewable traceability and long-term planning – while fitting the needs of local community sites. The agreement also supports future planning and continued progress towards OurCoop’s long-term sustainability goals, demonstrating what is possible when partners work collaboratively to create innovative models for the mid-sized market.

*The percentages were calculated based on Central Co-op’s electricity demand before coming together with Midcounties to form OurCoop.