Enel Green Power North America today announced it signed a 15-megawatt virtual purchase agreement with lululemon athletica inc. The VPPA will thus allow the athletic apparel company to purchase renewable energy from Enel’s Azure Sky wind project.
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This purchase will also allow lululemon to achieve its goal of sourcing 100% renewable electricity; specifically, across its direct operations in North America by 2021.
More about the VPPA
Worth noting, LevelTen Energy facilitated the VPPA, enabling lululemon to purchase the electricity delivered to the grid. Consequently, the apparel company will buy this power by a 15 MW portion of Enel Green Power’s North America Azure Sky Wind project in Texas.
This is the equivalent to the electricity used by all of lululemon’s company-operated stores, the Company noted in a media release. Similarly, it equals the power lululemon employs at its offices and warehouse facilities in North America.
Indeed, the agreement is lululemon’s first renewable energy VPPA. As such, it underscores the company’s investment in fueling its Impact Agenda.
Besides, and as Yahoo News notes in a report, retailers are working to embed circularity in their operations; therefore, they are prioritizing renewable energy.
Lululemon on its clean power goals
Similarly, today’s announcement helps lululemon achieve its RE100 commitment by 2021. The company is hence making progress toward its Impact Agenda goals.
In fact, lululemon’s Impact Agenda, launched in October 2020, details the company’s strategy to become more sustainable. The firm further outlines its vision to minimize environmental impact and contribute to a healthier world in the document.
Reception at Enel Green Power North America
In this sense, Georgios Papadimitriou, Head of Enel Green Power in the US and Canada, commented on the VPPA; “As increasingly more retailers work to address the circularity of their operations, from product design and manufacturing to packaging and end-of-life, industry leaders like lululemon are also prioritizing renewable energy as a centerpiece of their climate and sustainability efforts.”
Papadimitriou also expressed that the agreement “demonstrates how companies with a distributed operational footprint can leverage solutions like VPPAs.”
Accordingly, Enel Green Power’s North American Head noted that these agreements can help firms achieve their emissions reduction goals. These deals could also support the addition of new renewable energy to the electric grid.
The apparel company on the agreement
On the other hand, Esther Speck, VP Sustainable Business and Impact, lululemon, said the company “is committed to helping create an apparel industry that is both sustainable and inclusive.”
Consequently, the firm should address the severe implications of climate change, Speck continued. That includes, indeed, working toward a net-zero future and cutting carbon emissions across lululemon’s value chain.
“Science clearly shows the urgent need to act now. That’s why, among others, we’ve partnered with Enel Green Power North America to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and reduce our emissions footprint.”
Finally, the VP concluded that this agreement is an important milestone. Particularly, the decision highlights the company’s journey “toward cleaner energy and a healthier planet.”
