Private industry pushing ahead with clean energy because they also believe it's good for their bottom line.
Brewer Anheuser-Busch signs power deal with Enel
13 September 2017 by Craig Richard
UNITED STATES: The renewables arm of Italy's biggest utility company Enel will provide drinks conglomerate Anheuser-Busch with 51% of the power generated from its 298MW Thunder Ranch project in Oklahoma.
Under the power purchase agreement (PPA) Enel Green Power will sell the electricity output delivered by 152.5MW of the project’s capacity to the grid.
The contract enables the brewer to access enough renewable energy to cover 50% of its energy use in the US — up from less than 2% which is currently generated by 7.5MW of wind and solar projects installed at its US facilities.
Anheuser-Busch, which brews Busch, Budweiser and Estrella Jalisco beers, is headquartered in Oklahoma City — less than 140 kilometres south of Thunder Ranch.
The brewer aims to source 100% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025. This transition will require an extra 6TWh/year, Anheuser-Busch said.
"Helping to grow the renewable energy market is not only good for the environment, it is a strategic business move as we strive for long-term sustainability," Joao Castro Neves, president and CEO of Anheuser-Busch said.
"Now more than ever, we are excited to lead our company’s global effort toward a renewable future and, partnering with Enel, set an industry example of how major companies can help to make a difference in climate change," Neves added.
Enel began construction of the 298MW wind farm in May and first power is expected by the end of this year. It comprises GE 2.3MW and 2.5MW turbines.
As of 1 August, Oklahoma had the third-highest wind capacity in the US, with a total operational capacity of 6.95GW. In April, state governor Mary Fallin cut wind energy tax credits to $0.005/kWh.
