Crown Holding joins the green revolution through a European virtual purchasing agreement with EGPE

Packaging company Crown Holdings has reached a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement with Enel Green Power España (EGPE), a renewable energy subsidiary of Endesa. This agreement will guarantee the supply of electricity from the new photovoltaic project in Badajoz, Spain, and will cover all of Crown’s current operations in the European countries affiliated with the Alliance of Issuing Bodies (AIB). With this measure, the company will take a further step towards its Twentyby30 sustainability goal.

The implementation of the photovoltaic project is part of Crown’s efforts to improve its corporate governance. In search of responsible solutions, the company collaborated with Schneider Electric, an expert advisor in renewable energy procurement and carbon management, to select the project and negotiate a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA).

Crown has signed its first Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) in Europe, demonstrating its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking action at the local level. The project is expected to generate an annual output of 285,100 MWh, of which Crown has purchased about 70%, resulting in emissions savings equivalent to the electricity use of 40,000 households for one year. Renewable energy supply is planned to begin in October 2025, following an earlier project focused on decarbonization and sustainability.

During 2020, Crown achieved a major milestone by becoming the first metal packaging manufacturer to activate electricity from renewable sources at all of its beverage can plants located in the United States and Canada. This was possible thanks to the implementation of a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) in Texas that allowed them to obtain wind energy. It is estimated that this initiative will help reduce more than 310,000 metric tons of carbon emissions each year, which is equivalent to taking at least 67,000 passenger vehicles off the road for a full year.

Sustainability is an important priority for Crown, which is why the use of renewable energy is a key objective in its strategy. With the VPPA PV project underway, it is expected to meet Crown’s Science Based Targets (SBTi) approved Twentyby30 target of 75% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2040.

“Covering our energy consumption in the EU is a historic achievement for our organization,” said John Rost, senior vice president, Corporate Technology, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs. said John Rost, senior vice president of Corporate Technology, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs. “As we work towards the ambitious goals of our sustainability program, it is critical that we identify and implement real solutions that can reduce our energy consumption, reduce our emissions and create a more balanced footprint for our business, in all the regions in which we operate. Working with Schneider Electric to establish an impactful VPPA in Europe underscores that we are taking responsibility for our actions and striving to be the strongest possible partner.” he added.

According to Schneider Electric’s Vice President of Global Renewable Energy, John Powers, Crown is a leader in the packaging industry in terms of carbon emissions reduction and its commitment to sustainability. Powers also highlighted the importance of the agreement between Crown and EGPE, which contributes significantly to the company’s environmental and sustainable initiatives.