Nothing is better than to drink a beer in the Sun? Well, the producers of Budweiser suggest drinking the Sun in a beer might be even better.
Beer brewer AB InBev UK has signed a deal with Lightsource BP regarding a 100 MW of solar power for their production of Budweiser in the UK. By the company's account the deal is the largest unsubsidized solar PPA in the UK, to this day.
Jason Warner, Zone President for Europe at AB InBev, said: “Beer has been bringing people together for 3,000 years and we want to ensure that people can continue to enjoy it for generations to come, which is why we’re committed to brewing the highest-quality beer sustainably.”
The electricity will be provided from several sites, which will be ready for grid connection by the end of 2020. Once connected the deal will enable AB InBev UK to claim its over 17 million bottles and cans of Budweiser each week are 100% renewable. The brewery giant says that it is seeking to power all of its global operations with 100% renewables by 2025.
“This deal is about driving positive change in what people buy in their weekly shop, order in the pub or drink with friends. We want to build a movement towards celebrating and growing renewable electricity, and are asking our consumers, customers, colleagues, business partners and fellow companies to join us – we are making our 100% renewable electricity symbol available for any brands who share these values.”
Unsubsidized PPAs for industrial production or grid supply has made great strides in Europe this year. Previously, in the UK, in Italy, Spain and in Portugal similar deals have been closed, demonstrating that the growth of solar PV capacity is not impeded by the turn away from FITs.
Simultaneously, aventron announced to have signed turnkey EPC contracts for 2 x 50 MW solar parks in Spain with the IPP Solarpack Corporacion Tecnologica SA. Construction of the two sites in the Toledo and Murcia regions will commence as early as in the first half of 2019.
Also, BayWa r.e. is currently wrapping up construction on its 175 MW subsidy free solar park in southern Spain, with multiple other subsidy free large-scale solar parks at various stages of planning or construction. Benedikt Ortmann, Managing Ortmann, BayWa r.e. Solar Projects GmbH, said during a visit of the 175 MW solar park in November, that he believes that subsidy free solar parks financed through PPAs are the future in Europe. In this vein he said that he believes that with the next year or two the business model will take hold across all of Europe not just in southern Spain.
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InBev is a huge company, with annual sales of $56 bn a year and 28% of the world beer market. I’m not a fan of giant monopolists, but if you have them, it’s much better that they are committed to the transition. InBev’s use of its sustainability plan in beer marketing will push rivals to follow, sooner rather than later.