Gloucestershire-based green energy company, Ecotricity Group, has announced the start of a new relationship with HSBC's corporate banking team in Bristol. The new partnership, led by senior corporate banking manager Stefan Gunn, sees HSBC provide core banking and working capital to support the company's ambitious growth plans in a sector which HSBC Corporate is increasingly looking to support.

Founded in 1996, Ecotricity was the world's first green electricity company and has quickly grown to provide green gas and electricity to more than 50,000 homes and businesses across the UK. The company has built and operates 53 wind turbines across 17 sites, saving over 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, and most recently opened the UK's very first sun park to capture both solar and wind energy at one site.

With an enviable client list including brands such as Lush and the Co-operative Bank, Ecotricity is recommended by both the Soil Association and Oxfam. The company's new banking relationship will help it continue its rapid growth, opening more wind and solar farms across the country, building its customer base, and investing more resource into new renewable energy technologies.

Mark Bennett, HSBC's Head of Corporate Banking for the West & Wales, said: "Ecotricity truly is a one-of-a-kind business, having capitalised on growing demand in a sector that is increasingly important to both consumers and the government. Its innovative business model and approach has seen the company grow very quickly to establish itself within the energy sector and compete with the UK's larger suppliers.

Renewable energy is a fast-growing concern and we are delighted to be working with this market leader as it takes the next step on its business journey."

Dale Vince, Founder of Ecotricity, said: "At Ecotricity every year sees rapid growth in customer and windmill numbers as we change the way energy is made in Britain. We're also busy building our Electric Highway to bring about a revolution in transport, enabling a mass take up of electric cars and bringing change to the world of money through our Ecobond initiative - enabling people to share in the benefits of the green energy revolution.  

"To maintain the pace of our work and the progress we're making we need the support of an excellent bank, it's an essential ingredient - and we think we've found that in HSBC. "