Britvic signs solar power agreement

Atrato’s new solar installation in Northamptonshire will generate energy exclusively for Britvic. It will have a total capacity of 28MW and will be capable of generating 33.3 GWh pa of clean energy, the equivalent of powering 11,500 homes or planting 260,000 trees.

The electricity generated will be enough to power 75% of Britvic’s current operations in Great Britain, including its Beckton and Leeds factories, which can produce 2,000 bottles per minute of brands such as Tango, Pepsi and Robinsons.

Britvic says it is tackling its carbon footprint ‘head on through innovation, low carbon technology and energy sources, and establishing a more sustainable supply chain’. It has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, having already reduced direct carbon emissions by 24% since 2017. In 2022, 57% of its energy needs came from renewable sources, up from 28% in 2018.

Investments in manufacturing include the installation of five biomass boilers in Brazil; a £4m investment in a heat recovery system in Beckton; and a new Corporate Power Purchase Agreement in Ireland to produce water brand Ballygowan with 100% renewable (wind) energy.

Britvic says its Atrato agreement is particularly innovative as Atrato will supply Britvic with solar electricity that is commercialised on a pay-as-you-generate basis, but is delivered on a baseload basis that is consistent to the consumption needs of the company. Furthermore, the agreement between the two companies provides Atrato with the investment security needed to build the new solar farm in an old quarry in Northamptonshire: thus creating 28MW of additional renewable energy capacity.

Atrato has fully financed the solar installation, which is expected to be commissioned in early 2024.

In the 19 months since its IPO, London-headquartered Atrato has built a portfolio of 40 solar sites across the UK. Its client list includes blue-chip corporates including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Anglian Water, Nissan and Amazon.

Matt Swindall, Chief Procurement Officer at Britvic said: “This deal represents a significant milestone for Britvic as we continue to partner with home-grown renewable energy projects to power our business.

"The 10 year deal also establishes stability, enabling us to plan more efficiently over the coming years.

"In short, it’s great for our Healthier Planet sustainability ambitions, and great for the business.”