As part of Woolworths Group’s nationwide transition to clean energy by 2025, the supermarket giant’s operations in South Australia will be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity from July 2022.
A new South Australian renewable energy partnership will see around 70 Woolworths supermarkets, 17 BIG W stores and the retailer’s Adelaide Regional Distribution Centre source green power from Iberdrola Australia’s wind turbines and solar network at the Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park.
Woolworths will rely on the energy park’s 50 wind turbines and 250,000 solar panels to supply approximately 100,000 megawatt hours of renewable electricity per year.
“South Australia will be the first state where every one of our sites are powered by green energy, and we’re excited to use renewable energy generated locally to reduce the footprint of our stores from Roxby Downs to Renmark,” says Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci.
“South Australia has helped lead the transition to renewable energy in Australia, combining solar, wind and batteries to enable us to make this leap forward in our mission to be powered entirely by renewable sources by 2025.
“Our customers want us to make shopping better for the planet, and renewable energy is one of the key ways we’re boosting sustainability with the support of our sustainability innovation business, Woolworths360.”
In transitioning to renewable energy, Woolworths Group – Australia’s largest retailer, representing around one per cent of the country’s total energy use – is prioritising partnerships with new-build renewable projects. The multimillion-dollar nine-year deal with Iberdrola Australia supports the ongoing development of Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park.
“We are delighted to be supporting Woolworths Group in its sustainability journey by providing retail stores in South Australia with 100 per cent green energy,” says Iberdrola Australia managing director and CEO Ross Rolfe AO.
“Woolworths Group is demonstrating we can decarbonise our electricity sector, preserve our natural environment and create jobs in Australia’s regional communities.
“The Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park is the largest hybrid wind-solar farm in the southern hemisphere. It operates as part of Iberdrola Australia’s large and rapidly growing portfolio, providing our customers with electricity supply agreements that are reliable, affordable and clean.”
Woolworths Group has pledged to make its operations net carbon positive by 2050, meaning it will remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it produces.