(Photo Credit: Ball Corporation)Ball Corporation executed two virtual power purchase agreements equaling 388 megawatts of new renewable energy. The company says these VPPAs, one for wind and another for solar, address all of the North American electricity load used for corporate, packaging, and aerospace operations by the end of 2021.
Although details weren’t available about the specific projects, Ball says that the wind and solar developments in Oklahoma and Texas will allow the company to reduce its global Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50%. Schneider Electric Energy and Sustainability Services assisted Ball Corporation with project selection and negotiations on the agreements.
“The combined wind and solar projects will allow us to address our North American electricity use, and make significant progress toward our previously announced Scope 1 and 2 science-based GHG emissions target, while leaving room for growth in our businesses,” said John A. Hayes, chairman, president, and CEO of Ball Corporation.
In 2017, the latest year data is available, Ball reported using 4.6 million megawatt hours of energy, 1% less than in the previous year. The global beverage packaging business accounted for 85% of that total. Can size trends, new line startups, and line or plant curtailments can all offset progress made toward energy efficiency goals, the company explains.
“To significantly and cost effectively reduce our energy consumption, we follow a global energy strategy that addresses energy supply and demand, and requires the consideration of energy efficiency when making investment decisions,” Ball says.
Previously the company began using renewable energy in 2015 starting with three wind turbines to help power its beverage packaging plant in Findlay, Ohio. One Energy invested $18 million to install five 1.5 megawatt-hour wind turbines on land next to the plant. Last year the project expanded to six turbines, which are expected to generate more than 24,000 megawatt hours of energy annually.
“With this first step to a low carbon energy supply future, we are avoiding more than 8,200 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year,” the company’s case study said.
The 4th Annual Environmental Leader & Energy Manager Conference takes place May 13 – 15, 2019 in Denver. Learn more here.
