Today, Budweiser Canada announced a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Capital Power. Thus, the deal includes approximately 51% of the electricity generated by a new solar facility in Taber, Alberta.
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Partnership to help Budweiser advance its sustainability goals
Beer Company Budweiser Canada announced today a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Capital Power. Accordingly, the deal includes approximately 51% of the power generated by a new solar facility in Taber, Alberta.
Moreover, of Budweiser’s purchased electricity, approximately one-quarter will be bundled with project-generated RECs directly from the solar facility. Also, three-quarters will be sourced with RECs elsewhere in Canada.
According to the company, this development is the next chapter in AB InBev’s global sustainability strategy. Specifically, the Budweiser brand aims to produce every beer it brews using 100% renewable electricity.
Therefore, the long-term deal supports Capital Power’s Enchant Solar project to the Alberta market. Hence, this is the most significant public renewable electricity commitment ever made by a Canadian brewer.
In fact, Labatt’s Budweiser brand is leading the way in publicly announcing an innovative agreement of this nature.
Furthermore, construction is set to break ground in the second quarter of 2022. Also, Labatt expects the project enters into commercial operations by the fourth quarter of 2022.
“This initiative is solar-powered proof of Budweiser Canada’s commitment to renewable electricity. Additionally, it supports Budweiser’s commitment to brewing every beer with 100% renewable electricity,” said Andrew Oosterhuis, VP Marketing, Labatt Breweries of Canada.
Reception and outlook
Thus, “we’re very proud to be Canada’s leading brewer in renewable electricity and believe that a brighter future is in our hands. Moreover, we are optimistic that this type of collaborative and innovative Partnership will begin to define the model by which Canadian companies can join us in choosing earth.”
Similarly, Sian Barraclough, Vice President, Strategy and Sustainability, Capital Power, expresses: “We’re excited to support Budweiser’s renewable electricity goals through this unique, collaborative agreement.”
Furthermore, “our team of experts and innovators is dedicated to developing customized renewable energy solutions that meet the needs of our partners. Also, to empower them to meet their clean energy targets. As we work to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050, we plan to develop renewable projects that help us meet our sustainability goals and support a low-carbon economy overall.”
Globally, this is not the first Budweiser’s effort regarding clean power. For instance, the company brewed over 10 billion beers with renewable electricity in the last couple of years. It also supported renewable infrastructure projects valued at $1 billion.
Thus, this long-term Partnership marks AB InBev’s (Labatt’s parent company) 12th major virtual power purchase agreement worldwide. Furthermore, it is the first of its kind in Canada.
In 2018, AB InBev introduced its 2025 Sustainability Goals. In fact, those goals remain the company’s most ambitious public commitment yet and include Smart Agriculture (100% of the company’s farmers receive financial training). Additionally, Water Stewardship (100% of the communities in high-stress areas have measurably improved water availability and quality).
Also, Circular Packaging (100% of its product is in packaging that is returnable or made from majority recycled content; and finally, Climate Action (100% of the company’s purchased electricity comes from renewable sources & 25% reduction of carbon emissions across our value chain).
