AB inBev goes solar in China

AB InBev, the world’s biggest brewer, is reported to be converting half of its plants in China into solar-powered factories to reduce its fossil fuel consumption, a process which will be complete in two years’ time.

The company, which owns the Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois brands currently operates 40 breweries across China, with more than 25,000 employees.

By 2025, the company aims to use 100% renewable energy sources, Jean Jereissati, president of its North Asia Pacific region, told China Daily.

The plan was announced earlier this month in Putian, Fujian province, at its low-carbon brewery, following a RMB 105 million (US$15.8 million) investment in the plant, which will become Putian’s largest distributed photovoltaic power station with a total installed capacity of more than 15 megawatts, according to the report.

“Climate change has profound implications for us and for the communities where we live and work. Cutting back on fossil fuels is positive for both environment and business,” said Jereissati.

The company will also work with different stakeholders in water resources, packaging and renewable energy to achieve a green supply chain, according to Frank Wang, vice-president of AB InBev’s legal and corporate affairs in the region.

“We plan to complete installation and grid-connection of our photovoltaic power stations at 50% of our breweries across the country by the end of 2020, which are able to output 75 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, and supply 15% of all power usage at our breweries in China,” he said.