THAILAND – Agricultural commodities trader Cargill has partnered with Cleantech Solar to power its Thailand operations with clean energy.
Under the partnership, Cleantech Solar completed rooftop solar PV systems at four Cargill sites across Thailand.
Cleantech Solar funded, built, and will operate and maintain the systems under a long-term agreement with the US-based agricultural commodities conglomerate.
The solar power plants have a combined capacity of 2.4 MW and are expected to generate over 3,000 MWh of clean electricity in a year, equivalent to reducing 1,750 tonnes of CO2.
This represents perceptible efforts by Cargill to cut down greenhouse gas emissions from its operations globally.
The company has a science-based global commitment to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse emissions by 10% by 2025, measured against a 2017 baseline.
“Cargill supports global actions to mitigate climate change by constantly pursuing emission-reducing technologies to minimize carbon footprint,” says Watcharapon Prasopkiatpoka, Cargill Country Representative for Thailand.
The new sites will add on to Cleantech Solar’s portfolio of operating solar power plants in Thailand, which have since generated over 35 GWh of clean electricity, enough to power 17,500 Thai households per year.
“Cargill supports global actions to mitigate climate change by constantly pursuing emission-reducing technologies to minimize carbon footprint.”
Watcharapon Prasopkiatpoka, Cargill Country Representative for Thailand.
Food companies adopt clean energy as part of sustainability goals
Food companies globally have been making significant strides towards transitioning their facilities from fossil fuel dependent energy sources to cleaner, more sustainable sources.
This is in line with their sustainability goals that aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) has, for instance, ramped up its renewable and clean energy capacity and will now be able to meet 50 percent of its total energy requirements through these sources.
HCCB says it achieved this milestone through increasing annual power generation from renewable sources from around 70 million units in 2019 to the current level of around 95 million units.
HCCB was not alone in making renewable energy announcements.
Nestle also recently announced that it had inaugurated a private solar station in Morocco at the city of El Jadida in line with its focus on reducing green-gas emissions.
The station, operating some 2,600photovoltaic panels will produce 1.7 gigawatts of electricity per year, eliminating more than one million kilograms of CO2.
The transition to clean energy is expected to continue rising as pressure continues to mount on food companies to do more in reducing their carbon foot prints.
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