Como’s textile industry is joining forces to purchase renewable energy at reduced costs

The District PPA: collective renewable energy for textile SMEs 

The most concrete development is the launch of the collective Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) project for the Como Textile District, promoted by Confindustria Como, The Fashion Pact and the Centro Tessile Serico Sostenibile, with technical support from J4 Energy.

A PPA is a long-term (5–10 years) contract for the direct purchase of renewable energy at an agreed fixed price, entered into directly between companies and a renewable energy producer. For an individual textile SME, accessing a PPA is virtually impossible: the minimum volumes, financial guarantees and transaction costs are prohibitive. Aggregation at district level – involving around 500 textile companies in the Como area – solves this problem at its root.

The benefits for participating businesses include estimated savings of 15–25 per cent on electricity purchase costs, a contractually fixed price for 5–10 years, offering protection against volatility in the energy markets, 100 per cent renewable energy certified with Guarantees of Origin, a competitive advantage in tenders with brands that require sustainable supply chains, and the strengthening of the district’s identity and the positioning of ‘Made in Como’

How it works: the stages of the project 

The process is structured in five stages: collection of expressions of interest and energy requirements (current stage, estimated duration 2 months); development of a bespoke simulation for each company; a tender process involving accredited renewable energy producers; collective negotiation and signing of the contract; commencement of supply with continuous monitoring.

Before committing, each company will receive a personalised simulation showing the estimated kWh covered, the annual savings in euros and the Go certificates generated.

The aim is to begin purchasing energy through PPAs from the second half of 2027.

The “Indicators” platform 

In addition to the energy project, the Centro Tessile Serico Sostenibile has launched the web platform indicators.tecnoimp.it, designed to address three specific needs of businesses: to simplify ESG reporting, to establish shared industry standards, and to enhance the supply chain. Over the course of more than a year’s work, 1,167 indicators have been collected and harmonised from international brand checklists, certifications and reporting standards. The platform’s main features include: centralisation of ESG data and performance monitoring; supplier assessment using a dashboard of essential requirements; comparison with sector averages, to understand one’s positioning within the sector. “This opportunity for discussion is designed for the benefit of the entire district,” said Paolo Canonico, chairman of Confindustria Como’s Textile Supply Chain Group. “The challenges currently facing the sector require a collective response. Understanding market developments, anticipating brands’ demands and consciously navigating the path towards sustainable transition are essential for preserving the competitiveness of the Como textile supply chain.” For 2026, companies can access and complete the basic requirements forms free of charge for the first year. The platform is currently in its second phase (June 2026), with communication to brands and the sharing of access details as the next operational steps. “Measurable sustainability is not a luxury: it is a competitive prerequisite. It is not enough to claim to be sustainable; you have to prove it with objective and comparable data,” said Giorgio Penati, Managing Director of the Centro Tessile Serico Sostenibile