New Renewables Deal Could Save Arnott’s Big Biccies

Australian biscuit maker The Arnott’s Group has inked a renewable energy deal with Stanwell Corporation for its factory in Brisbane. And it’s a biggie.

Last year we mentioned The Arnott’s Group had signed an agreement to take its manufacturing facility in Sydney to 100% renewable energy for its electricity requirements by 2029. Now its Virginia, QLD plant is getting the same sort of treatment.

The 40,000 square metre manufacturing site runs eight product lines and three packaging lines. It employs more than 600 people who produce more than 40 *million* kilograms of biscuits a year.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday announced the eight-year clean energy deal involving more than 68 GWh¹ of electricity supplied from Stanwell Corporation’s pipeline of renewable projects.

“As we transition towards a clean energy future under our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, we know more and more businesses are wanting to decarbonise their operations and offer consumers products made with lower emissions,” said the Premier.

… and emissions reduction aside, generally these deals are very competitive with conventional mains grid supply.

Stanwell says it has a renewables portfolio of 2,100 MW involving projects that are currently operational, under construction or under development. Stanwell doesn’t appear own any operational renewable electricity generators at this point. It does own a couple of coal-fired powered stations: Stanwell (1460 MW) and Tarong (1843 MW).

What Stanwell has on the renewables front are offtake agreements with solar farms; including Blue Grass Solar Farm. Officially opened late last year, Blue Grass is a 200MW facility located in Queensland’s Western Downs around 14 kilometres from Chinchilla. The company is also progressing a joint venture in Wambo Wind Farm, and has offtake agreements with Tarong West and Clarke Creek wind farms in place.

What About Rooftop Solar At Virginia?

There’s plenty of rooftop space at the Brisbane biscuit factory for solar panels:

.. and Arnott’s intends – or at least intended – making use of it. The company had previously mentioned plans to install solar power systems at Huntingwood (Sydney), Marleston (Adelaide) and Virginia, and its head office in North Strathfield (Sydney).

According to the company’s 2022 Sustainability Report, all these projects were due for completion by the end of last year. I wasn’t able to find any very recent satellite imagery indicating whether the Virginia solar project had been completed or if a start had been made.

Arnott’s Emissions Targets

The Arnott’s Group has committed to achieving net zero emissions (Scope 1 and 2) across its operations  by 2040. Scope 1 are direct emissions from sources Arnott’s owns or controls. Scope 2 are indirect emissions associated with generation of energy purchased.

But Arnott’s is also taking things a step further by committing to achieving net zero Scope 3 emissions across its value chain by 2050, which encompasses emissions generated in the wider economy.

It’s great The Arnott’s Group are embracing renewables and trying to do a bit in the battle against global warming. After all, a melted Tim-Tam is a tragic thing.