Huhtamaki signs largest solar VPPAs in packaging industry in Europe

Huhtamaki Oyj has reportedly signed two ten-year VPPAs (virtual Power Purchase Agreements) with BayWa r.e, a global renewable energy developer. The agreements form the first crucial solar VPPA by a Finland-based company and the largest solar VPPA in Europe for the packaging industry.

Under the agreement, BayWa r.e. will construct two new solar deployments in Spain thereby bringing a substantial addition of renewable energy to the European grid.

The two new sites will have an annual combined volume of 200 GWh of renewable energy which is enough electricity to power nearly 25,000 households thereby saving around 89,000 tons of CO₂ annually.

Huhtamaki intends to leverage 100% renewable electricity throughout its overall operations by 2030. By signing these two VPPAs with BayWa r.e, Huhtamaki is currently taking a significant leap towards offering its objectives with sustainability at the center of the company’s 2030 strategy.

The 200 GWh agreements cover around 80% of the current electricity usage of the company in Europe, where the crucial global provider of sustainable packaging solutions has close to 18 manufacturing facilities across 10 countries.

According to Charles Héaulmé, the Chief Executive Officer and President of Huhtamaki, the company is fully dedicated in supporting the transition to a carbon-neutral economy and has a climate plan with clear aims and action plans to acknowledge all its emissions.

Héaulmé added that the agreement with BayWa r.e. exhibits the possibility to attain substantial progress in a short time as renewable energy plays a critical role in delivering the company’s ambitions.

Thomasine Kamerling, the Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Communications expressed that this is the company’s first VPPA which aligns with its shift towards renewable energy sources across the globe.

For the record, Huhtamaki operates in more than 36 countries and over 84 sites across the world.

Source credit:

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/12/20/2354942/0/en/Huhtamaki-takes-major-step-towards-its-target-of-using-100-renewable-electricity-and-a-carbon-neutral-production-by-2030-by-signing-the-largest-solar-Power-Purchase-Agreement-in-th.html