The investment will deliver 20% of the site’s electricity and save up to an estimated 1,800 tonnes of CO2 a year.
CCEP said the investment would help support its science-based target to be net zero by 2040. It follows a £27m investment in the Wakefield facility last year to support a new canning line designed to process more sustainable packaging.
Supply chain operations director Vanessa Smith said the investment would significantly contribute towards CCEP’s target of achieving net zero emissions by 2040.
The expansion has been planned in collaboration with local landowner Stephen Butterfield and is managed by Innova Energy. It uses two-sided solar panels that help maximise the capture and conversion of solar irradiation as it is reflected off the ground.
Renewable ambitions
“We know it’s important to implement initiatives like this at every level of the supply chain and increasing the local generation of renewable electricity will take us further towards our longer term decarbonisation goals,” said Smith.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all businesses to assess the way we do things, our ambition to function as sustainably as we possibly can is more heightened than ever.
We’re pleased to be helping in enabling a green recovery locally, and to have been able to work so closely with Mr. Butterfield to identify how we can meet a local need.”
Supporting climate change strategies
Denis Sorkin, investment director at Innova, added: “This is a fantastic example of CCEP supporting the UK climate change strategy and technological innovation, whilst engaging with the local community and stakeholders.”
Since 2017, CCEP has been using 100% renewable electricity at all its sites and is a signatory to both the RE100 renewable energy initiative and EV100 electric vehicle initiative.
CCEP’s announcement follows the Food and Drink Federation’s declaration of its ambition to support reach ‘net zero’ by 2040.
