New wind farm to power Nestlé
FOOD and drink giant Nestlé, whose York factory produces up to seven million Kit Kat bars a day, has commissioned a new wind farm in the Scottish borders to power its operations in the UK & Ireland when it is completed in 2017.
All of Nestlé’s grid-supplied electricity in the UK and Ireland already comes from renewable sources and the newly commissioned windfarm will generate new power to initially cover half of the company’s electricity needs, it said.
The deal, an initial 15-year partnership with Community Wind Power, will see a brand new nine turbine wind farm open in Dumfries and Galloway in the first half of 2017.
It will produce around 125GWh of power a year, enough to supply the annual demands of 30,000 homes.
Dame Fiona Kendrick, chairman and CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “We announced back in April that all of our grid-supplied electricity is coming from renewable sources but today’s announcement takes things a huge step further.
“This is a newly commissioned wind farm, generating new energy, creating capacity that didn’t previously exist and capable of providing half of our electricity needs. It’s a proud moment for us and means we have reached another key milestone in our efforts to become a sustainable business.”
Rod Wood, managing director, Community Windpower, said: “Community Windpower are delighted to be working with Nestlé by providing 50% of their energy requirements from our Sanquhar community wind farm project. As a leading party within the RE100, Nestlé’s commitment to sustainable resourcing is exemplary and our partnership is testament to that.”
The announcement comes on the day a new report is released under the banner “Nestlé in Society.”
It takes a detailed look back at the key achievements the firm has made against its goals to be a responsible and sustainable business over the last two years and its efforts to make a positive impact on UK and Irish society.
Nestlé aims to achieve 100% renewable electrical energy globally in the shortest practical timescale through RE100, a global initiative to engage, support and showcase influential companies committed to using 100% renewable power.
Nestlé also had an aspiration to reduce its UK carbon footprint by 40% by 2020.
