Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) has taken a major step toward its goal of sourcing 100 per cent of its electricity from renewables by the end of this year with the signing of a new Power Purchase Agreement.
CUB, which is part of the global AB InBev company, has forged a 12-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with German renewable energy developer, service provider and wholesaler, BayWa r.e.
BayWa r.e. will provide 74,000 MWh per year of renewable energy, enough to power 7,500 homes, which will be sourced from its solar farm in Mildura, Victoria.
CUB is also moving towards onsite solar generation, with solar panels to soon be installed on the roofs at each of its breweries.
“This represents an important step in CUB’s commitment to 100 per cent of its electricity being sourced from renewables,” CUB CEO Jan Craps said.
“As one of Australia’s first and leading manufacturing businesses, we have a responsibility to ensure we play our part in tackling climate change and a range of environmental challenges.”
Craps said the partnership will also offer reliable and affordable power. “Beyond our driving commitment to reduce our emissions, the investment also stacks up when you look at the reduced price we will pay to power our operations."
“Moving to renewable energy will ensure that we have certainty of supply and pricing, something that is incredibly important for a manufacturing business like ours.”
Construction of the 112 MW solar farm is underway and BayWa r.e. has already self-financed and constructed the 4km grid connection. It will be built by Melbourne-based Beon Energy Solutions.
CUB sites will remain connected to the grid, allowing excess capacity to be fed back into the system.
Matthias Taft, Board Member of BayWa AG with responsibility for the energy business, said, “For BayWa r.e., the partnership with CUB represents another success in Australia. Since entering the market, BayWa r.e. is now active in solar and wind project development and the solar installer wholesaler market.”
The partnership between CUB and BayWa r.e. will create up to 300 jobs through construction and opportunities for long term employment through the solar farm’s ongoing operation and maintenance.
