Queensland sunshine and breezes will be helping power your local Coles store from 2022.
Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham today announced that publicly-owned generator and retailer CleanCo had sealed a 10-year deal with Coles to purchase enough electricity to power more than 90 per cent of its Queensland sites from July 2022.
"Queensland has an economic plan for post-COVID recovery and affordable, reliable energy supply underpins that plan," he said.
"Affordable reliable energy is critical to business and industry, and their capacity to create jobs.
"That's why the government is investing in initiatives like our $500 million renewable energy fund that will allow our publicly-owned generators, including CleanCo, to invest and drive more renewable energy generation.
"Under this agreement, wind and solar energy generated on Queensland's Southern Downs and Western Downs will be powering Coles supermarkets and other retail outlets right across the Sunshine State."
CEO Steven Cain said the significant increase in renewable energy is a major part of Coles' commitment to be Australia's most sustainable supermarket.
"We are thrilled that with these agreements, Coles can make a significant contribution to the growth of renewable energy supply in Australia, as well as to the communities we serve."
"We have already made changes throughout our business to use energy more efficiently, which has enabled us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 36.5 per cent since 2009, while growing our team member base and store network."
The long-term agreement commences on 1 July 2022 and is backed by solar power from Neoen's Western Downs Green Power Hub and wind power from Acciona's MacIntyre Wind Farm.CleanCo is buying 400 megawatts of new renewable energy from ACCIONA's Macintyre wind farm, as well as building its own adjoining 102 megawatt Karara wind farm.
CleanCo's involvement in the MacIntyre Precinct has nearly doubled the size and capacity of the 1026 megawatt precinct, which will start supplying energy to the grid in 2024.
CleanCo CEO Dr Maia Schweizer said that providing competitively-priced clean energy to Coles allows CleanCo to create growth and jobs in south-west Queensland associated with its 2025 goal of 1000 MW of new renewable generation.
"We are proud to partner with Coles and provide renewables-backed power for its Queensland sites under one contract."
