Mars, Incorporated is now producing enough renewable electricity to power 100% of its UK operations.
The RE100 company has partnered with Eneco UK on a new 20-turbine wind farm located in the Scottish Highlands, and has committed to buying electricity for the next decade via this Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
The Moy Wind Farm has an export capacity of 60 MW and an annual consumption of over 125,000 MWh – enough power to power 34,000 average UK households.
As well as enabling all of Mars’ UK factories and offices to be powered by 100% renewable electricity and significantly reducing its carbon footprint, this new PPA demonstrates Mars’ support for increasing the availability of renewable energy in the UK.
Barry Parkin, Chief Sustainability and Health & Wellbeing Officer, Mars Incorporated, said: "The UK has been home to Mars for 84 years. We’re proud that the brands that we make here will now be manufactured using renewable electricity, and that we are reducing our carbon footprint in the UK and around the world. As with our Mesquite Creek Wind Farm in Lamesa, Texas, Moy will contribute significantly to our effort to eliminate fossil fuel energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from our global operations by 2040 as part of our ‘Sustainable in a Generation’ program. The Moy Wind Farm is part of our innovative and long-term approach to achieving our goal to be a successful and sustainable business for generations to come.
"We’re not there yet, but we recognize all businesses have a responsibility to tackle climate change and we hope our partnership with Eneco at Moy will encourage other companies to take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint through renewable energy. Working together, government and industry can move the needle on climate change."
Mars joined RE100 when the campaign was launched at Climate Week NYC in 2014, setting a target year of 2040 to be 100% powered by renewable electricity across its entire global operations. The food and beverage company is making considerable progress towards this target and is already powered by 100% renewable electricity for its US operations, having signed a PPA for a 200 MW wind farm in Lamesa, Texas, that went live in 2015. Efforts like these have helped Mars successfully achieve its global 2015 goal to reduce GHG emissions from operations by 25% from a 2007 baseline.
Emily Farnworth, RE100 Campaign Director said: "This is a significant investment that makes business sense and offers a welcome boost for UK renewables. Being 100% renewable in both the UK and the US is no small feat; Mars is clearly progressing against its 2040 goal for sourcing renewable electricity globally – setting an example to multinationals everywhere.
"We congratulate Mars on its huge success in slashing its greenhouse gas emissions. With 65% of the company’s emissions being produced along its supply chain, it’s important that Mars helps its suppliers switch to renewables too."
Zoisa Walton, Country Director, Eneco UK, said: "This project is very special to Eneco as it brings together all the elements of our strategy – a renewable generating asset, a like-minded partner in Mars, and the opportunity to deliver real benefits to the local community. We are proud to be supplying Mars UK and to be working with them to create a more sustainable future."