Axpo Iberia signs solar PPA with Berry Global

18.05.2021 - One of the world's leading suppliers of plastic packaging will soon be powering its plants in Spain with climate-friendly solar electricity under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Axpo Iberia. The U.S. company Berry Global will be supplied with electricity over a ten-year period from a new 50-MW plant to be built by Spanish project developer Solaria. Due for completion by the end of 2021, the plant is part of the 626-MW Trillo project, which will be the largest solar park in Europe.

The signing of the long-term contract with Axpo Iberia is integral to Berry Global's sustainability strategy in Spain. The company has committed to a 25% reduction in its emissions by 2025 compared to 2019 levels. The PPA also secures green power for its plants, which manufacture innovative plastic and nonwoven products, and ensures that local renewable energy infrastructure is strengthened in Spain.

Rodgers Greenawalt, Executive Vice President of Operations at Berry Global, commented: "This contract is one of many steps we are taking to reduce our carbon emissions. Not only does it ensure that we are manufacturing our products in a climate-friendly way, but it also reduces our customers' emissions at the same time and makes a substantial contribution to the expansion of renewable energies."

Under the PPA with Axpo Iberia, Berry Global is supporting the construction of the giant 626-MW Trillo solar park in Guadalajara, Spain. This will improve Berry Global’s carbon footprint in Spain by around 20,000 tonnes per year. Construction of Trillo’s individual plants, each with an installed capacity of around 50 MW, commenced at the beginning of May. The solar park is being developed by Solaria and is scheduled for completion towards the end of 2021.

Ignacio Soneira, Managing Director Axpo Iberia, said: "With this PPA, Berry Global implements its sustainability strategy and benefits from a fixed price for the ten-year period. For Axpo Iberia, the agreement is also of great importance as it allows us to strengthen our position in the market as a competitive and reliable partner for corporate PPAs in the long term."

Axpo Iberia offers its customers a broad portfolio of solutions for long-term energy management in the renewable energy sector. This has enabled Axpo's Spanish subsidiary to sign long-term contracts for the supply of more than 7 TWh of electricity from renewable sources since the beginning of 2021.