Ball Corporation, a provider of metal packaging for beverages, foods and household products, has announced that it will sign two virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), in a bid to achieve and maintain 100% renewable energy in Europe.
The wind energy projects – one for the Corral Nuevo project with wpd and another for the Brattmyrliden project with Falck Renewables – will generate nearly 308,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity in Europe each year.
Scheduled to come online in 2021, these developments in Spain and Sweden will enable the packaging giant to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by approximately 60% compared to 2019.
Ball’s overarching goal is to address 100% of its electricity footprint in the region by using clean power sources.
The company recently announced the purchase of Energy Attribute Certificates to fully cover its operations in the EU, Serbia and the UK during 2020.
“These milestone renewable energy deals in Europe affirm Ball’s steadfast commitment to reduce absolute carbon emissions within our operations and through our value chain,” said Kathleen Pitre, Ball’s chief commercial and sustainability officer.
“Both projects will allow us to address a substantial portion of our European electricity use with new wind energy and accelerate progress toward our recently approved science-based targets,” she said.
“Ball is demonstrating significant leadership expanding Europe’s emerging VPPA market,” said John Powers, vice president of strategic renewables for Schneider Electric, which assisted the company in its project selection and negotiations.
“By taking a portfolio approach and executing two wind deals simultaneously in two different countries, Ball is diversifying across geographies and advancing innovation in the industry.
“We want to congratulate Ball on this sustainability milestone and for furthering its commitment to accelerate the global renewable energy transition,” he continued.
By 2030, the company aims to reduce absolute carbon emissions within its own operations by 55% and within its value chain by 16% against a 2017 baseline.
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