Chr. Hansen has entered into an agreement to ensure that all its electricity use in Denmark is covered by renewable energy.
The ingredients supplier has secured a ten-year power purchase agreement with solar energy company Better Energy that will enable it to switch to green power from two new solar parks.
Better Energy will establish and operate the solar parks, which will be finished in April 2020, and sell the produced energy to Chr. Hansen at an agreed fixed price.
Energy Denmark will support the agreement by being responsible for creating a balance between consumption and production of electricity and handling the difference that will exist when the sun doesn’t shine. In that way, Chr. Hansen’s energy supply will be secured with power production from a mix of other renewable sources like wind and biogas.
Chr. Hansen Denmark’s annual energy need corresponds to the consumption of almost 15,000 Danish households.
“We want to contribute positively to the transition to green energy,” said Annemarie Meisling, senior director of Sustainability, Chr. Hansen. “That is why we have decided to commit to a long-term agreement to buy solar energy from two new parks so that our good bacteria and natural colours have a green footprint, both externally with our customers and on our home turf where some of our largest production sites are located.”
She added: “At Chr. Hansen we are committed to minimising our footprint and supporting clean energy in a meaningful way. Combining sun and wind as energy sources makes a lot of sense in a country like Denmark due to its climate. In addition to sharpening our own commitment to a sustainable future, we are proud of actively contributing on a national level through this agreement.”
According to Better Energy CEO, Rasmus Lildholdt Kjaer, the agreement is an example of how companies can assume joint responsibility for creating new energy from renewable sources to the benefit of an entire country.
“Creating new energy from renewable sources is key in the transition to green energy supply,” he said. “Chr. Hansen came with a strong wish to bring about change. We could offer them a solution with three clear benefits: competitive prices, direct association with specific solar parks and the subsequent creation of new renewable energy capacity in Denmark.
“Chr. Hansen’s choice to make a long-term commitment to buy electricity from our two new solar parks in the next ten years is groundbreaking. It serves as an inspiration to other companies by demonstrating that today it is possible to choose a new green energy supply that makes a true difference and contributes to accelerate the transition to green energy.”
Earlier this month, Chr. Hansen announced plans to expand its research and development facilities in Hoersholm, Denmark, in a move to meet the increasing demand for natural and sustainable products.
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