Kaleigh Harrison
A new solar development in Sicily is redefining how mid-sized corporations access renewable energy. Autodesk, IDEXX Laboratories, Synopsys, and an unnamed fourth participant have collectively secured 30 MW of clean energy from the Catania Solartrack project, a 50 MW facility currently under development by Aquila Clean Energy EMEA in eastern Sicily.
The agreement, brokered through Sustainability Roundtable Inc.’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB), uses a reverse auction process to level the playing field for companies traditionally excluded from large-scale energy deals. By pooling their demand through virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), these buyers are not only locking in clean energy at competitive rates but also directly contributing to the construction of new renewable infrastructure.
As Jim Boyle, CEO of Sustainability Roundtable puts it, “Our NZCB clients help to lead the corporate energy transition by procuring EACs that actually cause new renewable capacity,”
Marcos Domínguez, Head of Power Hedging & Research at Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, concurs, saying “This agreement is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to sustainability and the wider shift towards a low-carbon economy. Collaborative purchasing agreements such as this one are essential for accelerating the large-scale deployment of renewable energy.
The Catania facility—spanning 247 acres—integrates agricultural land use with energy production, a model increasingly favored in Europe for maximizing land efficiency. Once operational in late 2026, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 27,000 homes while avoiding around 24,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Why This Model Matters for Corporate Sustainability
This deal isn’t just about renewable energy access—it’s about reshaping the market for how smaller or mid-sized enterprises can participate. The NZCB model ensures companies are purchasing energy that drives new development, rather than simply acquiring credits from existing sources. Over the 10-year contract term, the deal will generate roughly 61,000 purchaser-caused certificates per year, helping companies make tangible progress toward Scope 2 emissions reduction.
Each participating company had its own strategic sustainability drivers. Autodesk committed to 5 MW as part of its target to reach 100% renewable electricity, tying the investment back to its customer-focused decarbonization tools. IDEXX Laboratories, also at 5 MW, aligned this deal with its European energy footprint and overall 2030 renewables goal—marking its third global, but first European, collaboration with NZCB. Synopsys took on 7 MW to support its Science Based Targets initiative, with the remainder allocated to a fourth company not publicly identified.
The financial structure benefits both sides: developers receive long-term, fixed-price contracts that support project financing, while corporate buyers access competitively priced clean energy without the need to develop infrastructure themselves. With more than 1 GW of renewable capacity already facilitated in the U.S., the NZCB’s move into European markets shows a scalable path forward for distributed procurement models.