AB InBev to brew beer using renewable energy at new solar park

AB InBev has announced that its beers across Western Europe will be brewed using 100% renewable energy, following the opening of a 148p solar park near Granada, Spain. 

The Verbund Pinos Puente Solar Park sits on 161 hectares of land in southern Spain, generating solar power for climate-friendly brewed beer. The solar park was developed in partnership with BayWa r.e and Verbund. The three companies have partnered on a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement for the energy transition.

The park will generate approximately 260-gigawatt hours of emission-free electricity per year with a planned total capacity of 147.6 megawatts-peak.

AB InBev will produce brands such as Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois at the park, all of which will be supplied with 250-gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually – the drinks giant says “this is enough electricity to brew over 10 billion beers per year or enable an electric car to drive around the whole of Europe 1.2 million times”.

The deal covers 14 of AB InBev’s breweries in Western Europe ad more than 50 brands across 12 countries. It will also support the company to reach its 2025 climate action goal and achieve net zero in its full value chain by 2040. 

Erik Novaes, VP of procurement and sustainability Europe at AB InBev, said: “With a global energy crisis and the growing impact of climate change keenly felt across much of Europe this summer, we are focused to be building climate resilience and driving forward our push towards decarbonisation”. 

Matthias Taft, CEO, BayWa r.e, added: “We are simultaneously experiencing a global climate and energy crises. Addressed together, we have an opportunity to propel forward the renewable transition, increase energy security and transform energy markets. To do this, we must realise many more renewable projects and sign many more PPAs. Great projects and collaborations like this show the way forward.”