New solar farm to power 5% of Virgin Media O2 network
Key Points
- Virgin Media O2 has signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement with egg Power to buy renewable electricity from a new solar farm in Suffolk, set to become operational in early 2027.
- The Grange solar farm will supply around 5% of Virgin Media O2’s total energy needs, supporting the company’s goal of using 100% renewable energy where it controls the bill.
- Combined with a previous wind energy PPA, the two long-term deals will cover approximately 20% of VMO2’s energy supply.
- The agreement forms part of Virgin Media O2’s Better Connections Plan, targeting net zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040.
- egg Power (Liberty Global’s clean energy business) will deliver the project, strengthening UK renewable generation and providing long-term price stability for the telecoms operator.
Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with egg Power to source renewable solar energy from a new solar farm in Suffolk.
The deal, announced on Tuesday (28 April), will see egg Power supply clean energy from its Grange solar farm once it becomes operational in early 2027. The project is expected to meet around 5% of Virgin Media O2’s total energy needs.
This agreement builds on VMO2’s previous PPA for wind energy secured in 2025 with The Renewables Infrastructure Group.
Together, the two deals will deliver approximately 20% of the company’s energy supply through long-term PPAs.
The move supports VMO2’s strategy to use only renewable energy at sites where it controls the bill, while enhancing network resilience and backing UK renewable generation.
Mark Hardman, Director of Finance Operations at Virgin Media O2, said the agreement with egg Power is the latest step in Virgin Media O2’s journey to achieve net zero emissions by the end of 2040.
“We’re committed to growing and operating our business in a way that’s good for people and the planet, where we’re cutting carbon, securing renewable energy on a long-term basis, and sourcing renewable energy generation from the UK.”
egg Power’s growing portfolio
The Suffolk solar farm is part of egg Power’s expanding UK portfolio, which already includes other solar projects aimed at supporting Liberty Global’s operations and partners.
egg Power, Liberty Global’s clean energy infrastructure business (Liberty Global owns Virgin Media), acquired the rights to the Grange solar farm from PS Renewables in late 2025.
Ilesh Patel, who leads the egg Power business at Liberty Global, said the agreement is a further endorsement of the group’s mission to become the clean energy supplier of choice for telcos and digital infrastructure providers in the UK.
“With funding in place for more projects, we’re excited about the next chapter as we continue to deliver reliable, price-predictable renewable power that strengthens the UK’s energy security, underpins long‑term growth and meet the needs of large energy users,” Patel said.
The surge in data demand from AI and broadband growth is driving significant energy needs for telecom operators, making such renewable deals increasingly important for both cost stability and sustainability.
