Beverage manufacturer Frucor Suntory has signed an agreement with publicly owned CleanCo to secure a clean energy start for its new beverage manufacturing facility at Swanbank, Queensland.
The new deal has been enabled by the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, meaning the facility – Frucor Suntory’s first in Australia, and the largest FMCG investment in Australia in the last decade – will be powered by 11GWh of publicly owned renewable energy.
This follows the Queensland Government’s investment of half a billion dollars to propel the development of up to 2.3GW of large-scale solar and wind projects in regional Queensland.
The investment capitalises on Queensland’s abundant sun and wind resources and will significantly contribute to the state’s future renewable energy requirements of 70 per cent by 2032.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen said: “Some of Australia’s favourite beverages will soon be manufactured using renewable energy produced right here in Queensland, with a deal enabling a state-of-the-art net zero manufacturing and distribution facility in Swanbank.
“Matched by our investments in renewable energy, we’re directly reducing embedded emissions in products manufactured in Queensland, meaning our industries remains highly competitive in the global marketplace and that equals job security.”
CleanCo CEO, Tom Metcalfe said: “Under the agreement CleanCo will supply electricity and large-scale generation certificates (LGCs) covering 100 per cent of Frucor’s electricity requirements.”
Frucor Suntory CEO Darren Fullerton said: “We want our new +$400 million Swanbank facility to set a benchmark for sustainable investment for our global business and the FMCG sector.
“Working with partners like CleanCo is essential to helping us achieve that vision and will allow us to operate with 100 per cent green energy when the site goes live in mid-2024,” Mr Fullerton said.
