A VPPA has been signed by Dutch international food retailer Ahold Delhaize with the Spanish firm Bruc, a key move towards sustainability. The deal will be used to finance and develop five solar power plants in Seville, Spain, which, once operational, will produce 460 GWh of renewable energy annually. This output will cover about 30% of Ahold Delhaize’s electricity needs across its operations in Europe, thereby advancing the company’s climate goals: to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
This project therefore further complements Ahold Delhaize’s Renewable Energy Programme, focusing on energy efficiency, self-generation of renewable energy, and sourcing of green energy. Frank Sluis, CFO of Ahold Delhaize Europe and Indonesia, welcomes the VPPA and says that “the development of these solar plants is very important for our climate agenda.” “This VPPA and the development of the solar plants in Seville mark a big step in our Renewable Energy Program.”. It underlines our ambition to reach our 2040 scope 1 and 2 net-zero commitment, said Sluis, while adding that all European brands under Ahold Delhaize are advancing in their climate efforts.
Construction of the solar power projects is to commence this year, with energy generation expected to start in 2026. The facilities will add about 515 GWh of new solar capacity to the grid, and Ahold Delhaize has contracted roughly 90% of that output under a 15-year deal which includes renewable energy certificates. This strategic move will probably lead to a severe crash in the carbon footprint of the company, especially with respect to scope 2 emission tied with the consumption of electricity.
The benefits of this deal will not be one-sided; Bruc, a renewable energy developer, will also profit from this. The CEO, Luis Venero, says the agreement with Ahold Delhaize is in well alignment with the vision of Bruc that is committed toward sustainable energy and has a portfolio over 9 GW. Such collaborations, according to Venero, underline the commitment of Bruc toward growth in renewable energy solutions.
Ahold Delhaize has cut the European emission of electricity consumption by two-thirds. It has set an intermediate goal to remove electricity-related emissions by 2035 to get closer to net-zero by 2040. The major initiatives in this direction are the new heat pumps, advanced refrigeration systems, LED lighting, heat recuperation, and better building insulation.
Ahold Delhaize will fortify its environmental commitments by investing in solar energy, while its project will become a model for other retailers to follow suit in the integration of renewable energy into their operations, contributing to global efforts in climate change mitigation.