Pictured above L- R: Jacqui Walters, Chair CleanCo; Elliott Rusanow, CEO-Elect Scentre Group; Tom Metcalfe, CEO CleanCo.
In moves to get to net zero carbon in operation by 2030, Charter Hall has struck a green energy agreement with ENGIE to supply green electricity across the group’s portfolio, while Westfield has switched to renewable energy in Queensland.
For its portfolio of Westfield Living Centers in Queensland, Scentre Group has struck a deal with CleanCo, the Queensland Government’s renewables, low-emissions, and hydro corporation, to purchase power from only renewable sources starting in 2025.
Scentre Group CFO and CEO-Elect Elliott Rusanow said the agreement is consistent with Scentre Group’s transition plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
“We consider responsible, sustainable business a key part of our strategy and ambition to grow,” he said.
“We have a strong track record on sustainability, having already reduced our emissions by 30% since Scentre Group was established in 2014. This agreement will help us deliver our interim emission reduction target of 50% by 2025.
“Today’s announcement is the second agreement we’ve completed. In January 2022 we moved our New Zealand Westfield Living Centres to 100% renewable electricity.”
Meanwhile, Charter Hall Group has signed a significant Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the world’s largest renewable energy company, ENGIE Australia & New Zealand, to supply all of the group’s property portfolios with 100 per cent renewable electricity over a seven-year period.
According to the PPA, 151 GWh of renewable energy will be procured annually to 152 Charter Hall sites from state-based wind and solar energy projects. This is the equivalent of using renewable energy each year to power around 26,000 typical households.
“At Charter Hall, we are leveraging our platform-wide scale and ENGIE’s world-leading renewable power capacity to unlock value and secure competitively priced, renewable electricity,” Charter Hall Managing Director & CEO, and Property Council President David Harrison, said.
“This will deliver long-term benefits and mutual success to our partners, customers, communities and the planet.
“Not only will this PPA reduce Charter Hall’s carbon emissions by 70 per cent when the partnership becomes active in 2024, it will also ensure we remain on-track to reach net zero carbon in operation (Scope 1 and 2), on or before 2030.
“Further, our investment in procurement of renewable electricity will assist Australia’s transition to a low carbon economy and accelerate the industry’s growth and potential to secure new and improved renewable technologies, to benefit generations to come.”
According to Rusanow, Scentre will achieve its net zero aim in part by increasing asset efficiency through programs including installing LED lighting, improving building management systems, and producing renewable energy on-site.
Solar systems at Westfield Carousel, Coomera (pictured above), Kotara, Marion, and Plenty Valley helped Scentre Group produced 7,931 MWh in 2021. New onsite solar panels will produce an extra 6,200 MWh in Victoria as part of the group’s investment in Westfield Knox and Westfield Fountain Gate. This will result in a more than 75 per cent increase in the group’s overall portfolio solar generation capacity.
Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, The Hon Mick de Brenni, said the deal was another major step for renewable energy made and delivered in Queensland.
“CleanCo is unique in its remit – a government owned corporation that is leading the energy transformation in Queensland from the beginning to end of the supply chain – building and investing in projects and selling electricity to customers at the other end,” he said.
“This is proof our publicly-owned CleanCo is getting on with the job of connecting businesses in Queensland to clean, reliable energy from Queensland renewables and helping decarbonise our economy.”