Westfield switches to 100% renewable energy in Qld

Westfield shopping centres in Queensland will run on 100% renewable electricity by 2025. Scentre Group, which operates the Westfield brand, has signed a deal with CleanCo, a Queensland Government-owned renewables, low emissions, and hydro company, to provide it with energy from renewable sources.

Scentre Group CFO and CEO-Elect Elliott Rusanow said the agreement will help the company achieve its goals of net zero emissions by 2030.

“We consider responsible, sustainable business a key part of our strategy and ambition to grow,” Rusanow 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.”

Other initiatives by the group include use of LED lighting, changes in building management systems and generating renewable energy onsite. In 2021, solar installations at Westfield Carousel, Coomera, Kotara, Marion and Plenty Valley produced 7931 MWh of electricity, and Westfield Knox and Westfield Fountain Gate in Victoria will soon generate an additional 6200 MWh from their own panels.

Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen The Hon Mick de Brenni said the deal was an important step for renewable energy produced and provided in the state.

“Every time Queenslanders visit a Westfield centre in Queensland, they are now supporting Queensland renewable jobs and Queensland’s net zero goals,” de Brenni said.

“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.

“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.”

Electricity for Westfield shopping centres in Queensland will mostly be sourced from the Western Downs Green Power Hub, Kaban Green Power Hub, and the Dulacca Wind Farm, where CleanCo has power purchase agreements.

“Combined, these projects support more than 850 jobs, many in regional areas. So, every time a person visits a Westfield centre, they can know they’re doing their part to help Queensland reach net zero, while also supporting economic growth in the state,” de Brenni said.

“The Queensland Government has a target to reach 50% renewable energy generation by 2030 and we congratulate Scentre Group for joining us on this journey.”

CleanCo CEO Tom Metcalfe said the company was glad to be involved in helping the Scentre Group work towards its net zero targets.

“This deal is another example of how businesses are leading the way to help the state reach net zero, and how CleanCo is supporting businesses [to] meet their own targets,” Metcalfe said.

“Agreements like this one with Scentre Group underpin our own target of bringing 1400 MW of new renewable energy into the market by 2025, while supporting the Queensland Government’s 50% renewable energy by 2030 target.”

Rusanow said: “We’re focused on improving environmental performance and have started work on an integrated environmental plan to address waste, and water as well as energy efficiency initiatives. This includes better understanding how the Group can support its business partners in achieving their own environmental targets.

“As an example, we have worked with Country Road Group and MJ Bale to provide them 100% renewable electricity which has enabled them to move all their stores within our Westfield Living Centre portfolio to a renewable product.”