Nestlé boosts renewable supplies with new Scottish wind farm
Nestlé has opened a new onshore wind farm in Scotland that can power half of its operations in the UK and Ireland.
Food and drink giant Nestlé has opened a new onshore wind farm in Scotland that can power half of its operations in the UK and Ireland.
The Sanquhar wind farm, located in Dumfries and Galloway, consists of 9 turbines with a maximum capacity of 30 megawatts.
It is expected the project will generate 125 gigawatt hours per year, with enough additional energy fed back to the National Grid to power 30,000 households.
Nestlé already sources 100 percent of its electricity demand in the UK from renewable technologies as part of a commitment made in 2016. It also has a target to reduce its carbon emissions in the UK by 40 percent by 2020.
The new wind farm will provide additional renewable capacity and was developed in partnership with energy business Community Windpower. The company has signed a 15-year deal to provide Nestlé with power from the project.
Stefano Agostini, Nestlé’s chief executive in the UK and Ireland, was present at the inauguration ceremony this week.
“I’m proud that Nestlé is doing the right thing and directly contributing to the reduction of carbon here in the UK and Ireland. We all have a part to play in reducing climate change and its effects while making sure that we safeguard our planet’s future,” he said.
“We already use 100 percent renewable, grid supplied electricity across all our UK and Ireland operations, but now with the opening of Sanquhar wind farm, we can supply half of our own energy here in the UK and Ireland. I’m delighted we not only using 100 percent renewable electricity to run our business here in the UK and Ireland, we are now responsible for producing it too.”
Rod Wood, managing director at Community Windpower said: “Nestlé are leading the way procuring a UK source of green energy directly from our latest Scottish wind farm. CWP’s long term partnership with Nestlé has delivered a substantial new investment in Scotland generating economic benefits, jobs and invaluable community contributions over the next 25 years.”
The wind farm has proved popular in the local area and received no objections throughout the planning process. As part of renewable developers’ commitment to be good neighbours, a community benefit fund of £75,000 a year will be provided for the local area.
Photo Credit: Dorli Photography/Flickr
