Mars bars go green as factories plug into Victoria’s biggest solar farm

AFR: 02/03/21

Confectionery maker Mars, one of Australia’s biggest manufacturers, has shifted its six factories and two offices to renewable energy by plugging into Victoria’s biggest solar farm as part of the multinational’s goal to cut its global emissions.

The maker of the Mars and Milky Way chocolate bars and food brand Masterfoods will receive the equivalent of all its electricity needs from the first stage of the Kiamal solar farm near Ouyen in Western Victoria.

In 2018, Mars signed a 20-year power purchase deal with Total Eren, helping lock in funding to construct part of Kiamal Solar farm, which has an eventual grid output of 200MW from 718,000 solar panels.

General manager of Mars Australia Bill Heague said volatile electricity prices played a part in the decision to switch to cheaper renewables.

“Renewable electricity is cheaper than that generated by fossil fuels, so we expect to see a benefit over the lifetime of the deal, and a 20-year agreement gives us certainty in a volatile market.”

But he said the move by the privately held company – which operates six manufacturing sites, in Asquith, Ballarat, Bathurst, Wacol, Wodonga and Wyong, and two sales offices, in Melbourne and Sydney – is a fundamental part of the multinational’s plans to reduce its global greenhouse gas emissions by 27 per cent by 2025 and 67 per cent by 2050.

“As a business, we have a responsibility – and opportunity – to improve our impact on the planet. Australia, as a nation, is currently one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gas per capita globally, with electricity generation being a major contributor,” Mr Heague said.

REenergise campaign director Lindsay Soutar from Greenpeace Australia Pacific said Mars was leading the field in the Australian corporate renewable energy race, which now counts Woolworths, ALDI and Bunnings among those who have a commitment to 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2025.

The Kiamal Solar Farm has an eventual grid output of 200MW and spans over 4.6km2, featuring 718,000 solar panels

“The Mars power purchase deal with Kiamal Solar Farm has seen the company become one of the first major food and drink companies in Australia to be entirely powered by the sun.

“By making a major investment in solar power, Mars is driving down greenhouse gas emissions – and, to sweeten the deal, they’re helping to create clean energy jobs and investment for Western Victoria.”

Michael Vawser, Asia Pacific regional director of Total Eren, said the farm is also backed by Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Alinta Energy, FlowPower, and Zero Emissions Water and Origin Energy.