A Highland windfarm has helped international consumer products giant Unilever power all its UK sites with renewable energy.
The conglomerate behind brands ranging from Persil washing powder to Hellmann’s mayonnaise yesterday announced it had achieved the target by buying up most of the electricity produced by the 23 turbines at Lochluichart.
Under a three-year deal with the Ross-shire windfarm’s owner, renewable energy company Eneco UK, the firm has bought a total pf 165 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is 87% of its output.
It is being used by 15 sites owned by Unilever, which has operations around the UK, including global research facilities at Port Sunlight in the Wirral, Colworth in Bedfordshire and Leeds.
Surplus power from the site, 11 miles north-west of Dingwall is being sold under a retail tariff to nearby communities.
The new contract comes shortly after an announcement by Unilever that it was using biomethane to power five sites, meaning its UK business now sources 100% of its electricity from certified renewable sources. The Dutch-British multi-national also has an agreement with Eneco to supply electricity to its offices and factories in the Netherlands from an offshore windfarm in the North Sea.
Yvette Edwards, sustainable business and communications director at Unilever, said: “It’s been an exciting start to the year in the UK where we are on a journey to improve the sustainability of our sites. This latest step in securing an in-country, sustainable supply of wind-generated energy is an important milestone in helping us meet our bold ambition of becoming carbon positive by 2030.
“It’s made all the more significant as any surplus supply will be sold to nearby communities, thereby progressing our vision of making sustainable living commonplace.”
Nigel McManus, head of Eneco Energy Trade UK, added: “The power generated by Lochluichart Wind Farm will supply dedicated renewable power to the majority of Unilever UK sites for years to come.
“We will also assist Unilever to engage with the upcoming smart, flexible energy market to further reduce their costs and carbon footprint.”
Lochluichart Wind Farm became operational in 2014, with an installed capacity of 69 megawatts. Renewable energy company Infinergy recently submitted plans for an eight turbine extension at the site.