How can I use renewable tariff providers to source renewable supply for facilities across multiple sites?

To source renewable electricity across multiple sites using renewable tariff providers, the usual approach is to set up a multi-site energy procurement strategy rather than treating each facility separately.

1) Start with a site inventory

Collect for each facility:

• Address and meter point / account number
• Annual electricity consumption (kWh)
• Current contract end dates
• Current tariff type and supplier
• Peak demand profile, if relevant
• Any constraints (site-specific franchise rules, landlord arrangements, embedded generation, etc.)

This lets you understand:

• Which sites can be bundled together
• Which are best suited to fixed vs variable tariffs
• Where the biggest carbon reduction is achievable

2) Choose the renewable supply mechanism

Renewable tariff providers typically offer one or more of these:

• 100% renewable electricity tariffs
  Electricity is matched by renewable certificates (often REGO/GO in the UK, RECs in the US, or local equivalents elsewhere). Good for quick multi-site deployment.

• Corporate renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs)
  Best for larger portfolios that want direct sourcing from a wind/solar asset. More complex, but stronger additionality.

• Green supply / bundled tariffs
  A supplier provides electricity and bundles renewable attributes into the tariff.

• Market-based renewable certificates
  If direct supply isn’t available at every site, you can procure certificates to cover residual demand.

For most organizations with multiple sites, a renewable tariff across all meters is the simplest operational route.

3) Consolidate procurement where possible

Ask providers whether they can:

• Supply all sites under one contract
• Offer portfolio pricing
• Handle multi-meter billing
• Provide a single account manager and consolidated reporting

This reduces admin and often improves pricing.

4) Evaluate providers on more than price

When comparing renewable tariff providers, check:

• Verification of renewable content
• Geographic match of supply and certificates
• Contract length and exit terms
• Flexibility to add/remove sites
• Billing format and data reporting
• Smart metering / consumption analytics
• ESG reporting support
• Financial stability and customer service

If your organization reports Scope 2 emissions, ask how the provider supports market-based accounting and whether certificates are retired on your behalf.

5) Structure the contract for multiple sites

Common approaches:

• Master supply agreement + site schedules
• Portfolio contract with all meters listed
• Framework agreement that allows future site additions

Make sure the contract includes:

• Renewable percentage commitment
• Certificate retirement evidence
• Price review mechanism
• Site transfer/addition process
• Service-level requirements for billing and data

6) Set up governance and tracking

Once live:

• Assign an internal owner for energy procurement
• Track each site’s monthly consumption
• Reconcile supplier statements and certificate retirement evidence
• Monitor contract renewal dates
• Review whether any sites need on-site generation or storage for further decarbonization

7) Consider a blended strategy

For many portfolios, the best solution is:

• Renewable tariff provider for immediate coverage across all sites
• On-site solar/efficiency for sites with high load or good roof space
• PPA or certificate procurement for deeper long-term decarbonization

Example approach

If you operate 20 facilities:

1. Aggregate all site electricity data.
2. Identify which sites have contracts expiring in the next 12 months.
3. Issue an RFP to renewable tariff providers for a portfolio-wide green tariff.
4. Compare by annual cost, certificate type, flexibility, and reporting.
5. Award a contract that covers all existing meters and allows new sites to be added.
6. Use supplier reports to document renewable supply and Scope 2 claims.

Key takeaway

Use renewable tariff providers as a portfolio sourcing solution: aggregate all sites, procure under a single or coordinated contract, verify the renewable attributes, and build in reporting and flexibility so the arrangement works across your full facility network.

If you want, I can also help you with:

• a provider evaluation checklist
• an RFP template
• or a multi-site renewable procurement strategy tailored to your country/region.