NIGERIA – Nigerian Breweries Plc (NB), franchise bottler of Heinenek Lager, has entered into a solar energy supply deal with CrossBoundary Energy for the operation of a 650 kW solar plant at NB’s Ibadan Brewery.
CrossBoundary Energy will install and operate the solar energy plant as Heineken’s first solar project in Africa, which will become operational by the end of this year.
Under the agreement, the renewable energy investment fund will operate the rooftop facility on behalf of Nigerian Breweries as part of a 15-year solar services period.
The deal will see NB only pay for solar power produced, receiving a single monthly bill that incorporates all maintenance, monitoring, insurance and financing costs.
The solar project will supply 1GWh annually to the Ibadan brewery at a significant discount to their current cost of power, while reducing the site’s carbon dioxide emissions by over 10,000 tonnes over the lifespan of the plant.
Jordi Borrut Bel, Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc said: “We are delighted to be a pioneer in the adoption of solar energy in Nigeria.
The solar plant will help power our world-class brewery in Ibadan, enabling us to deliver on commitments under our ‘Brewing a Better World’ initiatives and supporting Heineken’s global ‘Drop the C’ programme renewable energy.”
Heineken’s Drop the C programme for renewable energy aims to grow its share of production related energy sourced from renewables from the current level of 14% to 70% by 2030.
According to Martin Kochl, Supply Chain Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., the project will enable the firm achieve a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 as outlined under the Brewing a Better World initiative.
“We’re excited to be helping Nigerian Breweries go solar and to be providing the site with cleaner, cheaper power with no upfront investment or technical risk,” added Femi Fadugba, Head of Business Development at CrossBoundary Energy.
Building and design of the project will be carried out by the Topec Nigeria (TPN) Limited as well as performing operations and maintenance immediately after commissioning- as contracted by CrossBoundary.
Ruud van Milligen, General Manager for TPN said: “We are grateful that we, as an Energy Solutions partner for Nigerian Breweries, and CrossBoundary Energy can contribute to the renewable goals of Nigerian Breweries with our custom-made energy solutions and best-in-class operations and maintenance operations,”
The solar project is also expected to support the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) target of having 2,000MW of power capacity from renewables by 2020 during its 25+ years lifetime.
Support for the project came from Shell Foundation and the Solar Nigeria programme, an initiative implemented by Adam Smith International with funding from UK Aid.
The project reinforces the company’s commitment to creating shared, sustainable value for all stakeholders under Heineken’s initiative dubbed as ‘Brewing a Better World’.
Brewing a Better World entails 6 core elements; Every Drop – Protecting Water Resources, Drop the C – reducing CO2 emissions, Promoting health and safety, Advocating responsible consumption, sourcing sustainably and Growing with communities.
Incorporated in 1946, Nigerian Breweries Plc has significantly grown into becoming a leading brewing company in Nigeria, with a current 11 breweries, two malting plants and a rich product portfolio.
NB produces and markets the brands Star, Gulder, Heineken, Legend, Maltina, Amstel Malta, Goldberg, Life, 33 Export, Tiger, Fayrouz, More, Climax, Williams Ale, Hi Malt, Strong bow and Malta Gold.
CrossBoundary Energy is Africa’s first and largest operator of financed solar solutions for businesses and has so far signed the first commercial and industrial solar power purchase agreements in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda.
