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Dairy giant Saputo has entered into a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with North American power producer Capital Power. The long-term deal, which is supported by energy procurement advisor Schneider Electric, is part of Saputo’s sustainability efforts. The agreement pertains to a Canada-based wind facility, named Halkirk 2 Wind, which is currently under construction. Once operational, the portion of the wind facility contracted by Saputo will generate around 206,300 MWh of renewable electricity annually. This is set to reduce the dairy giant’s CO2 emissions by more than 140,000 tonnes. The VPPA is expected to reduce Saputo’s global CO2 footprint by 13%, compared to its fiscal 2020 baseline. Carl Colizza, Saputo’s president and COO of North America, said: “It is vital we demonstrate our commitment to the long-term sustainability of the dairy industry. This VPPA is an important step in sourcing clean, renewable electricity to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations, so that we may play our part as a sustainable dairy processor and safeguard the environment for future generations.” Capital Power’s SVP and head of Canada, Jason Comandante, commented: “We are pleased to collaborate with industry leaders such as Saputo and Schneider Electric in delivering reliable, affordable, and decarbonised energy to our North American customer base. Through this agreement, we are again able to showcase our ability to collaborate and innovate, creating mutually beneficial partnerships to reduce emissions and support achieving broader climate change targets.” John Powers, VP of renewable energy and cleantech for Schneider Electric, added: “This collaboration between Saputo and Schneider Electric represents a global best practice for today’s needed energy transition, demonstrating the power of innovative partnerships and technology while also strengthening Saputo’s position as a leading sustainable dairy processor." The agreement is subject to final regulatory approvals.