Finland’s S Group has unveiled the Luvia wind farm, in Eurajoki, the latest investment in its multi-year renewable energy strategy.
With the investment, the conglomerate, which operates in the retail, hospitality and banking sectors, is now one of Finland‘s largest domestic wind energy providers, having invested close to €600 million over the past decade.
The Luvia wind farm consists of thirteen Vestas Enventus V162 turbines, each with a capacity of 6.2 MW. It covers approximately one-fifth of the trading group’s electricity needs.
With the completion of this project, S Group’s annual electricity consumption is now fully equivalent to its renewable energy production, the group noted.
Latest investment
“We have been building wind power capacity in Finland according to our long-term plan,” commented Maija Henell, S Group’s energy director. “The recently completed Luvia facility is our latest investment.
“We are now focusing on finding solutions for energy storage and batteries, which we are planning both in connection with our wind farms and in selected properties. Energy storage would balance weather-dependent electricity production.”
Henell added that the group’s various cooperatives are also investing in renewable energy at a local level, largely in solar power.
“We are already one of the largest solar power producers in Finland with approximately 120,000 solar panels located at our locations from Hanko to Salla,” she added.
Net-zero target
S Group has set a target of achieving net zero across its own operations and value chain by 2050, while it expects to meet its goal of carbon negativity in its own operations this year.
By 2030, the group is aiming to to reduce operational emissions by 90% from 2015 levels, having already achieved an 85% reduction through energy efficiency measures, heat recovery, refrigeration system upgrades, and optimised lighting.
‘Investments in wind and solar power are an important part of the climate goals of our own operations,’ it added. Read more here.
