Energy firm reveals green link-up

Scottish and Southern led the group on renewable energy

Scottish Power has signed a deal to supply green energy to thousands of the Co-operative Group's sites.

The three-year contract, worth more than £100m, will supply the Co-op with 100% renewable-produced electricity.

The company claims it will provide power to 4,500 Co-op outlets throughout the UK.

The deal comes after the two companies joined together to build a wind farm in Cambridgeshire, which opened earlier this year.

Scottish Power, the UK's biggest generator and developer of wind energy, claims the deal is one of the biggest of its kind.

The agreement builds on a similar, newly-expired deal and the £17m joint venture to build the wind farm which can supply 10,000 homes.

The power will be supplied to Co-op's shops, funeral parlours, pharmacies, travel agencies and CIS Co-operative Insurance outlets.

Willie MacDiarmid, Scottish Power's energy retail director, said: "This green energy deal strengthens our relationship with the Co-operative Group and reinforces the commitment of both organisations to responsible business and the environment."