Partnering with the RE100 renewable energy initiative, Coca-Cola Amatil has committed to power its entire operations, spanning six countries, with 100% renewable electricity by 2030 (by 2025 in Australia and New Zealand).
RE100 is led by the Climate Group in partnership with CDP, and brings together more than 290 leading companies around the world that are committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity.
For Coca-Cola Amatil Group Managing Director Alison Watkins, joining RE100 is an important step in Amatil’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint and follows the recent launch of the company’s 2020-2040 Sustainability Ambitions, which includes the commitment to net zero direct carbon emissions by 2040.
“Moving to 100 per cent renewable electricity across our entire operations by 2030 is critical to ensuring we meet our 2040 target of net zero direct carbon emissions, and it is the right thing to do as an increasing number of our customers, employees, partners, suppliers and shareholders look to us for continued leadership in sustainability,” said Watkins.
Coca-Cola Amatil Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer Sarah Cook said joining RE100 is significant as it means Amatil now has a firm target for 100% renewable electricity use across all of its operating markets, including Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, PNG, Fiji and Samoa.
“Given our scale, making a whole of business commitment means we will be able to achieve regionwide outcomes as we build on our existing investments in renewable energy sources. This will enable us to maximise the positive impact to the environment, while helping to drive the growth of renewable electricity industries, including the creation of new jobs, in all of the countries where we operate,” said Ms Cook.
RE100 Australian Coordinator Jon Dee said, “RE100’s 290 plus members collectively use more electricity than is generated across Australia. If this group of companies can achieve 100 per cent renewable energy, then so can other major Australian companies.”
Amatil has already implemented its renewable electricity operation in Indonesia with the opening of Stage 1 of what will be country’s largest rooftop solar system at West Cikarang in Java.
Covering an area of 72,000m2, the West Cikarang solar project will generate 7.13MWp of solar power during peak capacity during the day (9.6 million kWh per year). Amatil plans to expand its solar program to several manufacturing facilities throughout Indonesia, in Medan, Semarang and Surabaya, with an expected energy production capacity of 6,052 MWh in the first year.
In addition to the West Cikarang project in Indonesia, other renewable energy initiatives already undertaken by Amatil include three on-site solar projects in Australia at Eastern Creek (NSW), Richlands (QLD) and Kewdale (WA), with combined generation of 3.5 megawatts; and one of Fiji’s largest rooftop solar panel installations, with generation capacity of 1.1 megawatts.
