The energy crisis has many parts of the world firmly in its grip. Rapidly switching to renewable energies and reducing dependence on fossil fuels has never been more important. The Verbund solar park in Pinos Puente, near Granada in Spain, is an example of a joint and sustainable path to the future.
In the process, three companies from Europe have joined forces in a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) for the energy transition.
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Construction began in May 2021 and at the end of September the solar park was ceremoniously opened by the three companies in the presence of local and international guests.
The Pinos Puente solar park
The 161-hectare Pinos Puente Solar Park will generate approximately 260 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of emission-free electricity per year, for a total planned capacity of 147.6 megawatt-peak (MWp).
The 10-year VPPA agreement between AB InBev and BayWa r.e. makes the solar farm part of one of the largest pan-European corporate solar power deals to date.
As a result, the brewer of beer brands such as Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois will be supplied with 260 GWh of green electricity per year, which will come from the Verbund solar park as well as a second plant that is scheduled to come online by the end of October. That's enough electricity to brew over 10 billion beers a year or power an electric car 1.2 million times across the European continent.
Solar electricity for 14 breweries in Western Europe
The agreement, which will allow AB InBev to brew beers across Western Europe with 100 percent renewable electricity, covers 14 of the company's breweries in Western Europe and more than 50 brands in 12 countries, including Budweiser. It will play an important role in supporting both the brewery's 2025 climate change target and its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions across the value chain by 2040.
Erik Novaes, Vice-President Procurement & Sustainability Europe at AB InBev, says: "With the global energy crisis and the increasing impact of climate change clearly felt across much of Europe this summer, we are focused on building climate resilience and driving decarbonization."
Cybelle Buyck, Vice-President Legal & Corporate Affairs Europe at AB InBev, adds, "Our global goal, a future with more 'Cheers!" stands for shared prosperity for our community, for the planet and for our company. Sustainability is a fundamental part of our business, and we are very proud to open the park and start this next chapter with our partners."
Verbund: Massive expansion of electricity generation from wind power and solar energy
The rapid expansion of renewable energies is the only way to counter the climate crisis, make us less dependent on fossil energy imports and secure Europe's energy supply in the face of the Ukraine war and soaring electricity and gas prices. "We must act decisively: Every additional kilowatt hour from renewable energies is an important step for the energy transition. With projects such as the Verbund Pinos Puente solar park, we are driving the rapid switch to renewable energies in Europe," explains Michael Strugl, CEO of Verbund, Austria's leading energy company and one of the largest producers of hydropower in Europe.
Verbund has set itself ambitious targets in its Strategy 2030: The expansion of renewable energies in Europe is a key pillar - in addition to strengthening the integrated home market in Austria and Germany and establishing itself as a European hydrogen player. By 2030, up to a quarter of the electricity generated by Verbund is to come from wind power and photovoltaics. The Pinos Puente solar park marks Verbund's entry into the Spanish market.
Many more PPAs
Matthias Taft, CEO of BayWa r.e, comments: "We are simultaneously experiencing a global climate and energy crisis. If we address them together, we have the opportunity to drive the transition to renewable energy, increase energy security and transform energy markets. But to do so, we need to implement many more renewable energy projects and sign many more PPAs. Great projects and collaborations like this show us the way forward." (hcn)
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