Nestle launches new wind farm in Scotland
New wind farm in Scotland to supply energy for half of Nestle’s operations in the UK and Ireland
Nestle has announced the launch of a new wind farm in Scotland that will supply energy for half of the company’s operations in the UK and Ireland.
Nestle will buy all the electricity –around 125 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year, or enough to power 30,000 homes – produced by the new nine-turbine farm from Community Windpower with which it has had a partnership for 15 years.
The new farm will open at the beginning of 2017 in Dumfries and Galloway.
Dame Fiona Kendrick, chief executive of Nestle UK & Ireland, said: "We announced back in April that all of our grid-supplied electricity is coming from renewable sources, but today's announcement takes things a huge step further... This is a newly-commissioned wind farm, generating new energy, creating capacity that didn't previously exist and capable of providing half of our electricity needs.
Rod Wood, managing director of Community Windpower, said: "Community Windpower are delighted to be working with Nestle by providing 50% of their energy requirements from our Sanquhar community wind farm project."
Nestle is part of the RE100 initiative which aims at committing companies to 100% of renewables for their energy supply, in order to reduce their carbon emissions, and the company wants to reduce its UK carbon footprint by 40% before 2020.
Emily Farnworth, RE100 campaign director, said: "Nestle recognises that climate change impacts pose a risk to the business, and sees renewable energy as part of the solution...Today's announcement takes the company a step closer to its goal of sourcing 100% renewable electricity across its global operations, and reinforces the strong market signal - sent through RE100 - that business demand for renewables is rising.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "It's great to see a company like Nestle supporting the construction of new wind farms to help power the manufacture of its products...The next step on their 100% renewable journey should be to find ways to harness clean energy at their own manufacturing facilities and on their own buildings.
Lang Banks added: "With its huge renewable energy resources, Scotland is an ideal location to source the power needed to create products more sustainably. This is a great example of how business can help meet the UK's climate change targets."
