SYDNEY, 26 August 2020 – ALDI supermarket, of the famed ‘Special Buys’, has today announced an extra special buy – the commitment to purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by the end of 2021.In a move welcomed by Greenpeace, ALDI has been rolling out widespread energy efficiency measures, installing solar panels across hundreds of its stores and distribution centres, and signing agreements to buy electricity from Australian wind projects.
“ALDI knows a bargain when it sees one. Renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy and is bringing down power bills across the country,” said Lindsay Soutar, REenergise Campaign Director at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
“ALDI has abundant roof space across its hundreds of stores and distribution centres. In a sun-soaked country like Australia, it just makes so much sense to use that space to generate clean and affordable power.”
Already two major deals have been signed to source power from new wind farms – the Dundonell Wind Farm near Mortlake in Victoria’s Western District, and Collector Wind Farm in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales.
“ALDI’s deals with two new wind farms in Victoria and New South Wales are contributing to regional economic activity and new, future-proof job creation in clean energy at a time when we need it most.”
Today’s announcement prompts questions of when the two major supermarkets will follow suit: from single-use plastic bag bans to improving seafood sustainability, where ALDI has led Coles and Woolworths have followed.
“ALDI making this commitment demonstrates it’s both possible and desirable for our biggest supermarkets to run entirely on renewable energy and paves the way for Coles and Woolworths to do the same.”
Greenpeace is calling on Coles and Woolworths to match ALDI’s commitment and power their operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
For more information please contact Head of Communications Nelli Stevenson on 0428 113 346 or email [email protected]