.
Ahold Delhaize, a leading European retail company, has signed a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Spanish renewable energy company BRUC to support the financing and construction of five solar power plants in Seville, Spain. This project will supply 460,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy per year, which is equivalent to approximately 30% of Ahold Delhaize’s total electricity usage in Europe.
The project is an important step in Ahold Delhaize’s Renewable Energy Program, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its own operations (scope 1 and 2) by 2040. The construction of the solar plants is expected to start before the end of the year, with energy generation to commence in 2026. This project will add 515 GWh per year of new solar energy capacity to the grid, which is equivalent to the annual electricity usage of 132,000 households.
Ahold Delhaize will contract approximately 90% of the cluster’s installed capacity and will receive Guarantees of Origin (renewable energy certificates) for a period of fifteen years. This commitment demonstrates Ahold Delhaize’s ambition to achieve its 2040 scope 1 and 2 net-zero commitment and highlights the company’s focus on enhancing energy efficiency, generating its own renewable energy, and sourcing green energy.
The CEO of BRUC, Luis Venero, expressed his pleasure in partnering with Ahold Delhaize and jointly demonstrating their commitment to sustainable energy growth. This agreement is a significant step in Ahold Delhaize’s Renewable Energy Program, which has already reduced emissions from electric energy in its European operations by two-thirds. The project in Seville will further support the company’s scope 1 and 2 net-zero agenda, which aims to reduce electricity emissions to zero by 2035.
Ahold Delhaize’s Renewable Energy Program follows a “Use Less, Make Our Own, Buy Green” approach, where the company first focuses on reducing energy usage through energy efficiency measures, then generates its own renewable energy, and finally sources green energy. This project in Seville is a shining example of how the company is bringing its Growing Together purpose and strategy to life and leveraging its scale to launch impactful initiatives across its European brands.
Overall, this VPPA with BRUC and the development of the solar plants in Seville is a significant step towards Ahold Delhaize’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions and demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact.