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Statkraft and the biopharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca have joined hands to increase the provision of renewable electricity in Sweden through a wind power supply arrangement. This agreement pertains to commissioning of new wind farms. As per the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will procure 200 gigawatt-hours per year for a duration of ten years, equivalent to a total of two terawatt-hours. This quantity effectively covers around 80 percent of the electricity requirements at its research center in Gothenburg and its manufacturing facility in Södertälje.
AstraZeneca’s commitment to utilizing 100 percent certified renewable energy in its Swedish operations is well-established. With the partnership forged with Statkraft, the company is on its way to ensure availability of renewable energy within the local community. The collaboration centers around three wind farms situated in Strömstad and Årjäng, areas falling within Sweden’s bidding region 3 (SE3), precisely where AstraZeneca’s research and manufacturing sites are located. The farms are owned by Rabbalshede Kraft, who is responsible for the operations.
Beyond securing renewable energy sources, AstraZeneca is actively engaged in efforts to curtail its electricity consumption across its Swedish operations. Strategies include measures like harnessing surplus heat and optimizing humidity and temperature levels within its facilities.
“We want to contribute to the green transition in society. It is important for us to support initiatives that increase the availability of renewable energy. To successfully mitigate climate change, we must collaborate across different sectors and think beyond our own operations. Here we see an opportunity to contribute to the increase of renewable energy in society,” said Per Alfredsson, President AstraZeneca AB, Sweden.
“We are very pleased to support this ambitious initiative for a sustainable transition. This agreement confirms the role of Statkraft as a leading supplier of renewable energy to Nordic industries and our ambition to be a leading market integrator in the energy system”, said Hallvard Granheim, Executive Vice President Markets at Statkraft.
On a global scale, AstraZeneca’s objective is to reduce its Scope 3 value chain footprint by 50 percent by 2030, progressing towards a substantial 90 percent reduction by 2045, based on a 2019 baseline. AstraZeneca holds the distinction of being among the initial seven corporations worldwide to have their net zero goals verified according to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net Zero Corporate Standard.
