Britvic has signed a ten-year solar power agreement with Atrato Onsite Energy, which will provide 75% of the electricity used to make its soft drinks in Great Britain.
The owner of Fruit Shoot, Tango, Robinsons, J2O will source the energy from a new solar site that will generate 3.3 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of power, enough to power the equivalent 11,500 homes.
It will provide clean energy to the group’s factories in Rugby, London and Leeds, and has the potential to cut as much as 1,113 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the drink manufacturer’s supply chain each year.
Renewable energy
“This is an exciting opportunity to ensure that the some of the country’s most recognisable and much-loved soft drinks are powered by renewable energy,” Sarah Webster, Britvic’s director of sustainable business, commented.
“We know consumers want to buy more sustainable products, and this is another step towards reducing carbon emissions and our long-term sustainability targets.”
This endeavour aligns with Britvic’s overarching goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The 10-year power purchase agreement was developed by Squeaky Clean Energy.
Solar panels
Utilising a former quarry site deemed unsuitable for farming, the project employs double-sided solar panels equipped with tracking devices to optimise efficiency by 10%.
Moreover, the site embraces a rewinding approach, fostering biodiversity and creating opportunities for natural habitats to thrive, Britvic added.
“We are thrilled to complete this landmark and unique agreement with Britvic, reducing carbon emissions while delivering attractively priced energy,” commented Gurpreet Gujral, managing director, renewable energy at Atrato Group.
“Our business model is all about designing unique structures for clients tailored to their energy consumption needs and real estate site constraints, while delivering on sustainability targets and lower energy costs.”
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