With corporate contracting for large - scale wind and solar projects in the US reaching a record 4.8 billion this year , a renewables boom is being driven by virtual power purchase agreements ( VPPAs ) . These deals , contrasted with physical agreements , allow corporate buyers to focus on preferential pricing , either for cost or environmental reasons . To date, at least 55 U.S. companies have signed over 80 VPPAs for new renewable projects, according to an RMI paper, which profiles a VPPA negotiated by Cummins Inc., an international power equipment manufacturer. While physical PPAs deliver energy to the local grid , VPPAs can be tailored to specific markets where appealing market prices can be achieved . Members of the Renewable Energy Buyers Association have built 14.1 GW of renewable capacity , many of them using VPPAs .
With corporate contracting for large - scale wind and solar projects in the US reaching a record 4.8 billion this year , a renewables boom is being driven by virtual power purchase agreements ( VPPAs ) . These deals , contrasted with physical agreements , allow corporate buyers to focus on preferential pricing , either for cost or environmental reasons . While physical PPAs deliver energy to the local grid , VPPAs can be tailored to specific markets where appealing market prices can be achieved . Members of the Renewable Energy Buyers Association have built 14.1 GW of renewable capacity , many of them using VPPAs .