ALDI commits to 100% renewables by 2021

ALDI Australia has committed to power its Australian operations using 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2021. The announcement follows a 40% reduction of overall operational emissions intensity since 2012.

To meet the commitment, ALDI will roll out a vast solar installation program and has procured two 10-year Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) with large scale wind farms. The wind farms — located in the NSW Southern Tablelands and Western Victoria — will generate over 180,000 MWh of electricity, providing renewable energy to all NSW and Victorian stores and avoiding more than 160,000 t carbon emissions each year.

ALDI will use the rooftops of its vast real estate portfolio to harness more than 15% of its total energy use from the sun. By the end of 2020, over 250 of ALDI Australia’s stores and six distribution centres will have solar installations, totalling 102,000 panels of onsite solar energy generation, preventing 41,000 tonnes of carbon emissions entering the atmosphere every year. This is reported to be Australia’s largest commercial and industrial solar rollout to date — the equivalent of taking 11,700 cars off the road per year or generating enough electricity to power 7000 average Australian homes.

According to the 2019 Greenpeace Reenergise report, ALDI is the 64th biggest user of electricity in Australia, powering 555 stores and eight distribution centres around the country. The shift to renewables should provide evidence to Australia’s top energy users that renewable alternatives are affordable when factored into long-term planning.

The commitment to renewable energy has driven ALDI’s investment in more efficient systems to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions. This includes reducing energy consumption with LED lighting and energy-efficient chillers, upgrading to natural refrigerants and installing solar power systems.

ALDI Australia CEO Tom Daunt said, “We are proud to have built a reputation for providing customers with high-quality products and an affordable shopping experience. As we continue our journey in Australia, we want to reassure our shoppers that how we conduct business is equally important as the value we offer.”

ALDI is the first to admit that it still has trucks on the road and an extensive supply chain that relies on fossil fuels.

“We will continue to work within our business and closely with our business partners to reduce emissions and preference renewable sources of energy,” Daunt continued.

ALDI Australia’s commitment to becoming 100% renewable is a part of the global commitment to achieve a company-wide target for climate protection endorsed by the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi). SBTi took a close look at the retailer’s international targets and validated them based on scientific criteria agreed by CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

“Our commitment to only use renewable electricity is just one of many milestones we will announce as we drive towards our vision of zero carbon emissions,” Daunt stated.