Taste the Sun: Sol beer brewed using 100% renewable electricity

Annually

Sol beer brewed at the Zoeterwoude facility in the Netherlands has come from 100% renewable energy since April this year. The installation of 9,212 solar panels has seen the facility create surplus renewable energy that is directed into the local power grid to support the neighbouring community.

Annually, the brewery generates excess solar energy equivalent to powering around 300 homes for more than a month.

To mark the achievement, Sol has unveiled new labelling for beers sold across 50 markets, including the UK, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Finland, Spain and the Netherlands.

Heineken’s Sol global brand director Diederik Vos said: “As the brand’s name suggests, Sol is all about the sun and aims to inspire people to connect to the positive energy that comes from it. Brewed with Solar Energy is a great way to reinforce our authentic, longstanding connection to the sun, while taking care of the planet and its people.

“It is our responsibility to conduct business in a way that can be a positive force for change and to provide people with a product that fits increasingly sustainable-minded preferences.”

Heineken is aiming to increase the share of renewable energy it uses in the production phase to 70% by 2030.

Earlier this year, Heineken’s Spanish arm has signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that will see it switch to 100% renewable electricity from solar.

Heineken Spain switched to 100% renewable electricity across all breweries and offices last month as a result of the deal with Iberdrola. It estimates that the switch will reduce its annual Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (power-related) by 100,000 tonnes of CO2.

Heineken has backed around 30 renewable energy projects globally. Notable projects include onsite solar arrays in North Yorkshire, UK, and Kudena, Nigeria; four external PPAs across Mexico and a string of technologies used to make breweries in Göss and Schladming, Austria, carbon-neutral.


Edie’s Net-Zero November

Brought to you in association with edie’s headline partner EDF Energy, Net-Zero November will offer edie readers an array of net-zero-themed exclusive interviews, downloadable guides, reader blogs, virtual events and podcasts.

As part of the month of content, edie is also encouraging sustainability professionals to submit new or newly created carbon commitments aligned to net-zero on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall.

Additionally, Committee on Climate Change (CCC) Chair Lord Deben, Conservative MP Bim Afolami and Unilever’s Chief Supply Chain Officer Marc Engel are among the headline speakers for the free-to-attend Net-Zero Live virtual event on 10-12 November, which is now open for registration. 

View the full Net-Zero Live content programme here

Matt Mace

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