Frucor Suntory's facility to be powered by clean energy in Qld

Frucor Suntory’s new beverage manufacturing facility being built at Swanbank in Queensland will be powered by 11 GWh of renewable energy, thanks to an agreement signed with publicly owned CleanCo.

Expected to start operating in mid-2024, the multi-beverage facility will include beverage processing, packaging, warehousing and distribution, with a capacity to produce 20 million cases of drinks annually.

“For over 120 years, Suntory has focused on Growing for Good, and we want our new $400+ million Swanbank facility to set a benchmark for sustainable investment for our global business and the FMCG sector,” said Darren Fullerton, CEO Frucor Suntory.

“Working with partners like CleanCo is essential to helping us achieve that vision and will allow us to operate with 100% green energy when the site goes live in mid-2024.”

Under the energy agreement, CleanCo will supply electricity and large-scale generation certificates (LGCs) covering 100% of Frucor’s electricity requirements.

The energy deal has been enabled by the Palaszczuk government’s investment of half a billion dollars to propel the development of up to 2.3 GW of large-scale solar and wind projects in regional Queensland.

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni 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.

“It’s the Palaszczuk government that attracted Frucor Suntory to Queensland through our programs that support significant, job-creating private sector investment projects.

“Matched by our investments in renewable energy, we’re directly reducing embedded emissions in products manufactured in Queensland, meaning our industries remain highly competitive in the global marketplace and that equals job security,” Fullerton said.

Member for Bundamba and Assistant Minister for Energy Lance McCallum said: “This deal means more local jobs through clean energy as one of the world’s biggest companies delivers on their ambition for their new facility to be a net zero operation.”

Image credit: iStock.com/SeventyFour