PepsiCo Canada commits to 100 per cent renewable electricity use

All of PepsiCo Canada‘s owned operations will leverage Canadian renewable energy, as the company commits to purchase enough renewable energy (RE) to match 100 per cent of its operations from this year.

The Canadian operations transition will secure the benefits of more than 160,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity from renewable sources annually. Additionally, the shift to sourcing renewable electricity will help offset the climate impacts of the company’s electricity use.

PepsiCo has set an ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.

PepsiCo Canada will reach its target of matching its electricity consumption with 100 per cent RE this year through a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with a subsidiary of TransAlta for a new wind farm in Alberta and the purchase of Canadian Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from other Canadian wind sources. RECs are credits certified by independent third parties that support existing electricity generation from renewable sources. The 12-year partnership with TransAlta includes the Hanna, Alberta-area Garden Plain Wind Project; a 14,000-acre plot of land that is expected to produce 130 MW of wind power per year.

“We’re incredibly proud to share that we’re on track to achieve our goal of sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity,” said Chris Johnson, national engineering and sustainability senior manager, PepsiCo Canada. “This is just another step forward in our journey to build a more sustainable food system and ultimately, building a more circular economy in Canada with renewable electricity generated right in our own backyard.”