Electric cars are only as green as the electricity they run on. Therefore, the charging operator Clever will now cover the electricity drivers' consumption with green electricity with the construction of a new solar park, developed and operated by European Energy in the South of Zealand. The solar park will play into Clever's green ecosystem, where electric cars are intelligently integrated into the green transformation of the electricity grid.

If the electric cars are to contribute to the green transition, then they must also run on as much green power as possible. Therefore, the charging operator Clever is now taking an important step on the journey towards securing renewable energy for the batteries of electric cars. With the construction of a 70-hectare solar park, more than the total energy consumption from Clever's charging network will be covered by corresponding new green electricity in the electricity grid.

"With a new solar park, we are not just buying green certificates, but are, together with our customers, helping to ensure ever more renewable energy for the electricity grid. A big advantage of electric cars is that we can shift consumption, so when electric drivers choose intelligently charging and power from Clever, they will not only contribute to more renewable energy, but also that we use the energy more appropriately in the electricity grid," says Clever's head of business development, Mads Harder-Lauridsen.

The solar park will be in Tryggevælde south of Køge and be the size as approximately 100 football pitches. With an expected average annual production of 61 gigawatt hours, the solar park will supply new renewable energy to the electricity grid corresponding to the annual energy consumption from about half of Danish electric cars on the roads today - or about 300,000,000 km in an electric car.

The solar park will be owned, built, and operated by European Energy and is scheduled to be ready from 1 January 2022. The solar park has a total energy capacity of 42 MW.

Guarantee for more green power in the electricity grid

The solar park is created based on an electricity purchase agreement, also known as a PPA. With the agreement, Clever creates security about the investment from European Energy and is thus directly involved in supplying more renewable energy to the electricity grid - in contrast to, for example, only buying energy certificates on green electricity.

The PPA runs over 10 years from January 2022, and Clever will buy approx. 400 gigawatt hours over the 10 years or the power it takes to drive an electric car around the equator 475,000 times.

"It has been crucial for the realization of the solar park that Clever enters into an electricity purchase agreement with us. And in this way, a real positive effect is created on the share of renewable energy in the electricity grid. It is also an example of how renewable energy sources can now be established on market terms when companies step in and guarantee the investment. Thus, those who consume electricity directly help to drive the green transition forward," says Jens-Peter Zink, Executive Vice President of European Energy.

Potential for more than electric cars

For Clever, the creation of new renewable energy to cover consumption goes along with a vision to produce more green energy than just to cover the consumption of electric cars alone. The charging operator will also offer electricity for the rivers' other electricity consumption. When the power consumption for the electric car and for the household is combined with Clever's intelligent home charging and new smart lightning charging stations, the energy in the electricity grid can be utilized smarter throughout the day.

"Clever's purpose is completely to accelerate the green transition and act directly on our social responsibility. We do this by integrating intelligent solutions, where we move consumption to the times when there is more green power available, and make it as convenient and intuitive as possible to make the green choice in an otherwise busy everyday life," says Mads Harder-Lauridsen and elaborates:

"This way, we can offer a comprehensive, well-thought-out solution that creates more value behind the socket, and thus covers both the electric car and the home with increasingly green electricity in the electricity grid."

Facts

• Clever has entered a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) with European Energy, where Clever creates security about the investment in the solar farm and thus ensures the realization of the project.

• With the electricity purchase agreement, Clever secures the financing basis for new green electricity in the electricity grid.

• The electricity purchase agreement runs over 10 years and is for a total of approx. 400 gigawatt hours.

• The solar park will be established in Tryggevælde south of Køge and will have an average annual production of 61 gigawatt hours with an energy production capacity of 42 MW, some of which will be used to cover the electricity consumption of electric drivers who receive electricity from Clever.

• The annual production from the solar park corresponds in round figures to 305,000,000 km in an electric car.

• Clever will offer green power for more than just the electric car. When the power consumption for the electric car and for the household is combined with Clever's intelligent charging and smart lightning charging stations, the energy in the electricity grid can be utilized increasingly optimally.