Blackfinch Energy, part of the Blackfinch Group, and leading energy transition utility ENGIE have signed a landmark renewable energy deal with Unite Students, the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation.
The five-year power purchase agreement (PPA) guarantees up to a third of Unite Students’ annual electricity from renewable energy.
Starting in October 2026, ENGIE will supply 28 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year of clean solar power from Blackfinch Energy’s largest solar project, Three Maids, located near Winchester, Hampshire to Unite Students. The student accommodation provider currently purchases 99.9% of its electricity from renewable sources and is targeting 100% as part of its RE100 commitment.
The PPA with Blackfinch Energy, which has a portfolio of over 70 installations across the UK, diversified across both wind and solar and secured against a variety of contract types, provides longer-term price certainty for both Blackfinch Energy and Unite Students and a strong link back to 100% renewable source of origin.
As part of securing the supply contract, ENGIE aligned Unite Students’ decarbonisation goals with Blackfinch's Three Maids Solar Farm, marking the first step in delivering on those ambitions. ENGIE’s Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) partnerships aim to simplify the market, making asset-specific green supply products more accessible.
Sam Dickerson, Senior Commercial Portfolio Manager at Blackfinch Energy, commented: “This deal reflects our commitment to making reliable, renewable energy solutions that drive real progress on the decarbonisation of homes, businesses and communities across the UK. Securing long-term commercial contracts with industry leaders such as Engie helps demonstrate to our investors how we are protecting their capital and securing stable returns.”
James Tiernan, Head of Energy and Environment at Unite Students, said: “This agreement reinforces our commitment to sourcing all of our electricity from credible, renewable energy sources. We’re taking a proactive, sector leading approach to net zero and continue to look for ways to accelerate our transition both in operation and construction.”
Katrina Hillary, UK Energy and Renewables Originator at ENGIE said:
“We’re proud to act as a key partner in this landmark agreement, supporting Unite Students on their journey to net-zero. This partnership demonstrates how we can deliver innovative and tailored corporate PPA solutions through impactful partnerships that help organisations to achieve their decarbonisation objectives.”
Blackfinch Energy’s portfolio stands at 144 MW of installed capacity (operational, under construction and development) across over 70 individual installations and 21 project companies. Total generation capacity is approximately 224 Gigawatt-hours per annum.
