H&M Group and Alight sign power purchase agreements to build 3 new solar parks in Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden, January 25, 2024 — Alight, a leading European solar developer and independent power producer, and global fashion retailer H&M Group have signed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to enable the construction of three new solar parks in Sweden.

The ground-mounted solar parks will be located in Blekinge, Södermanland, and Halland, with a capacity of 13 MW, 6 MW and 4 MW, respectively. Construction of the park in Blekinge has already begun, while the latter two parks will begin construction this spring. They will be operational in early 2025, according to the current timeline, and will provide H&M Group with renewable electricity. Once in operation, Alight will own and operate the solar parks.

Together the projects will generate at least 24 GWh of clean electricity, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 4,800 homes.* This deal builds on the partnership between H&M Group and Alight, who signed a PPA in December 2022 to build a 100 MW solar park in Hultsfred, Sweden, jointly developed and owned with French renewable energy company Neoen.

Ulrika Leverenz, Head of Green Investment of H&M Group, said: “We are thrilled to have the possibility to add three new solar parks to the previous PPA we signed with Alight in 2022, getting us closer to our goal to only source renewable electricity by 2030. Renewable energy is a cornerstone of our roadmap to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero by 2040 and agreements like this one with Alight play a big part in our journey.”

Harald Överholm, CEO and co-founder of Alight, says: “We’re honored that H&M Group has chosen to bolster our partnership by signing PPAs to build three new solar parks in Sweden. This commitment by H&M Group makes the projects viable and adds new green power capacity to the Swedish grid. It’s a win for both corporate and community sustainability.”

*Based on 5,000 kWh per household

About the Blekinge solar park:

Investors: Infranode och Alight

Electricity grid owner: E.ON

Expected annual electricity production: 14 GWh/year

Installed power: 13 MWp

Area: 13 hectares

Construction start: Fall 2023

Planned date of commissioning: Spring 2025

About the Södermanland solar park:

Investor: Alight

Electricity grid owner: Tekniska Verken

Expected annual electricity production: 6 GWh/year

Installed power: 6 MWp

Area: 10 hectares

Construction start: Spring 2024

Planned date of commissioning: Spring 2025

About the Halland solar park:

Investor: Alight

Electricity grid owner: E.ON

Expected annual electricity production: 4 GWh/year

Installed power: 4 MWp

Area: 6 hectares

Construction start: Spring 2024

Planned date of commissioning: Spring 2025

About H&M Group

H&M Group is a global family of fashion and lifestyle brands and businesses. The company aims to offer fashion and quality at an affordable price in a sustainable way. Making a positive difference to its customers, colleagues, partners, business, communities, and the planet is what drives H&M Group forward.

For more information hmgroup.com.

About Alight

At Alight, we’re on a mission to kick carbon off the grid by helping energy-intensive businesses switch to solar. We develop, own and operate onsite and offsite solar projects across Europe and sell the clean energy to businesses at a low, fixed cost backed by a power purchase agreement (PPA), always independent of government funding or subsidies. By 2030, we aim to have an installed capacity of at least 5 GW, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Contact information

Meredith Popolo, Communications Director at Alight

+46 70-961 1583, meredith.popolo@alight-energy.com

H&M Group Media Relations

mediarelations@hm.com; tel. +46 8 796 53 00