Coca-Cola Amatil Joins The RE100

Beverage bottler Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has joined the RE100 renewable energy initiative after committing to 100% renewable electricity across its operations here and abroad.

CCA operates in six countries – Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa. In February, the company pledged to source all of its electricity consumed in Australia and New Zealand from renewable energy sources by 2025, along other sustainability measures.

Yesterday the company announced it had joined hundreds of heavy hitters of the business world that have signed on to the RE100 – a global initiative bringing together major businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. Among the other 290+ members are firms including Apple, Barclays and Google. Some of the solar companies listed include JinkoSolar and Sungrow.  

According to RE100, its members collectively consume more electricity than is generated across Australia.

Beyond Australia and New Zealand, CCA has also now committed to 100% renewable electricity for its operations in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa by 2030.

CCA Group Managing Director Alison Watkins said the commitments were the “right thing to do” as the company’s stakeholders, staff, suppliers and customers look to the firm for leadership in sustainability.

“Moving to 100 per cent renewable electricity across our entire operations by 2030 is critical to ensuring we meet our 2040 target of net zero direct carbon emissions,” stated Ms. Watkins.

“Net zero direct” refers to Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with Scope 1 being direct emissions from sources a company owns or controls and Scope 2 the indirect emissions associated with generation of energy a company purchases.

For other emissions (Scope 3), Coca-Cola Amatil’s target is 25% reduction by 2030 vs. a 2015 baseline.

CCA And Solar Power

The company didn’t go into great detail about how it will achieve 100% renewable electricity, but on-site solar power has and will continue to play a role. CCA already has runs on the board in terms of utilising solar energy in Australia, with rooftop PV installations at:

• Sydney’s Eastern Creek  – 1.7 MW
• Richlands (QLD) – 1.1 MW
• Kewdale (WA) – 692 kW

Elsewhere, there’s a 1.1 MW rooftop PV system in Fiji that is one of the country’s largest. Additionally, Stage 1 of what will be Indonesia’s largest rooftop solar system at West Cikarang in Java has been opened. When that project is complete, it will be a whopping 7.13 MW and cover 72,000m2. This clean power project is expected to generate 6,052 MWh in the first year – equivalent to around the annual electricity consumption of 1,200 Australian households.

RE100 Australian Coordinator Jon Dee said the company’s efforts in Indonesia will help to bring about a “tipping point” for renewables in that country and across the region.

Coca Cola Amatil’s efforts in Australia won’t just slash its emissions – it should also cut its energy costs. Given the cost of commercial solar in Australia these days, if a business (large or small) can afford to pay its electricity bills then it can afford to go solar and reap the additional benefits PV provides.