American brewing giant Anheuser-Busch announced Tuesday that it had signed a power purchase agreement for the electricity generated from a 310MW west Texas solar farm which, when operational in 2021, will increase the company’s purchased electricity from renewable sources to 100% of its requirements.
Anheuser-Busch, the wholly owned subsidiary of the world’s largest brewing company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, makes famous beers such as Budweiser and Bud Light, and in Australia owns iconic national brewer Cartlon & United Breweries – itself all but 100 per cent renewable powered.
Announced on Tuesday, the newly signed PPA for the total electricity generated by the 310MW Maplewood solar project in Pecos County in West Texas was signed with Recurrent Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of one of the world’s largest solar power companies, Canadian Solar.
The Maplewood solar project will generate enough electricity to supply the equivalent of 55,000 homes, or, in its newly announced role as part of Anheuser-Busch power portfolio, enough electricity to brew 20 billion 12-ounce servings of beer each year.
“As the country’s leading brewer, we’re committed to driving meaningful change as we announce the largest solar partnership in the world for the beverage industry,” said Michel Doukeris, President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch.
“From our 18,000 colleagues to our wholesaler partners, our teams across the country will continue to find innovative ways to create a world that is cleaner and more sustainable for future generations.”
Michel Doukeris also announced that, to commemorate the PPA which will bring Anheuser-Busch to 100 per cent renewable electricity, he will sign the world’s longest contract, for 5 billion years, with the sun.
Further, the contract has been designed by solar artist Michael Papadakis, and Doukeris’ signature will be signed using the light of the sun itself (pictured above).
With this PPA, Anheuser-Busch sets in motion plans to achieve its 100% renewable electricity target four years ahead of schedule which itself builds on the 2025 Global Sustainability Goals announced by its parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev).
Further, according to Recurrent Energy and Canadian Solar, the signed PPA is the world’s seventh-largest commercial and industrial PPA signed for solar energy, referencing data supplied by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
“The signing of this power purchase agreement with Anheuser-Busch, the US beer industry leader, demonstrates Canadian Solar’s ability to meet the needs of a diverse array of corporate customers,” said Dr Shawn Qu, chairman at Canadian Solar.
“We’re honoured to supply affordable clean energy to a C&I customer base spanning the sectors of academia, transportation, traditional energy, and now food and beverage. Looking at publicly announced deals, we are proud to be the leading solar developer in the Texas market, with over 1.3 gigawatts of signed electricity contracts for energy generated within ERCOT’s service territory.”
