HEINEKEN Spain to Brew Beer With 100% Renewable Electricity in 2020
HEINEKEN Spain has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with energy supplier Iberdrola, guaranteeing the supply of 100% renewable electricity to all four HEINEKEN Spain breweries as well as its offices by October 2020. This is a major milestone in the ambition to operate 100% carbon neutral by 2023.
The agreement by the two companies involves the construction of a new solar photovoltaic plant in Andévalo, which will be dedicated specifically for HEINEKEN use, and fully operational in 2020. The plant will guarantee the supply of green electricity to all four HEINEKEN Spain breweries as well as its offices – the equivalent of over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, or the annual emissions produced by nearly 25,000 homes[1]. In addition to its environmental impact, the new solar installation will create an estimated 200 additional jobs in the local community.
Guillaume Duverdier, Managing Director, HEINEKEN Spain, says: “Thanks to the Andévalo plant, all our drinks will be brewed using electricity created directly from the sun. This initiative reaffirms HEINEKEN Spain’s commitment to sustainability, as well as our industry leadership position in the drive to towards renewable energy usage in Spain. After covering all our breweries’ electrical requirements, we will be replacing our existing gas boilers with ones that use biomass in order to be able to brew beer using only renewable energy by 2023.”
The new initiative in Spain forms part of HEINEKEN International’s global sustainability strategy – “Brewing a Better World”. Part of this strategy is the ‘Drop the C’ carbon reduction program, where the company aims to grow its share of renewable thermal energy and electricity in production globally to at least 70% by 2030. HEINEKEN wants to drive a real change towards renewable energy across all regions where it operates. 29 renewable energy projects are currently underway around the world, focussing on harnessing the power of wind and solar energy, biomass or biogas. In addition to these, completed projects that are already operational include; carbon neutral operating breweries in Göss and Schladming (Austria), on-site biomass installations in Sampang Agung (Indonesia), on-site solar installation in Kudenda (Nigera), four off-site PPAs to power multiple breweries and shops in Mexico.
Ángeles Santamaria, CEO of Iberdrola España, adds: “PPAs will set the standard for the world’s energy future. Renewables have proven their competitive advantage and ability to supply power at affordable, stable prices.”
Located in the municipality of Puebla de Guzmán (Huelva) in the south of Spain the new plant will have a surface area of 150 hectares, the equivalent of 210 football fields. The project will have an installed capacity of 50MW and will generate 82 GWh/yr. This is enough to power over 15,000 residential homes annually. It will be built inside the biggest in-land wind farm in continental Europe, El Andévalo (292 MW), developed and managed by Iberdrola since 2010.
