Crown secures renewable energy agreement to boost electricity usage in Europe

SPAIN – Crown Holdings, Inc. has forged a 15-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Enel Green Power España (EGPE), Endesa’s renewable energy subsidiary, ensuring a steady supply of renewable electricity from a newly constructed PV project in Badajoz, Spain.

This groundbreaking deal encompasses Crown’s entire operational footprint in European countries affiliated with the Alliance of Issuing Bodies (AIB), which oversees the European Energy Certificate System.

It marks a significant stride forward for the company in its commitment to advancing sustainability under its Twentyby30™ program.

In partnership with Schneider Electric, a leading advisor in corporate renewable energy procurement and carbon management, Crown spearheaded this initiative to select the project and negotiate the VPPA.

This agreement, Crown’s first VPPA in Europe, underscores its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering local action.

Expected to generate an annual output of 285,100 Megawatt hours (MWh), with Crown securing around 70%, the project is projected to offset CO2 emissions equivalent to nearly 40,000 homes’ electricity consumption for a year.

Set to commence operations in October 2025, this renewable energy supply from the PV power plant builds upon Crown’s earlier endeavors in renewable energy aimed at achieving decarbonization and sustainability objectives.

In 2020, Crown became the inaugural metal packaging manufacturer to transition to renewable electricity across all its U.S. and Canadian beverage can plants through a VPPA executed in Texas.

This initiative, powered by wind energy, is estimated to prevent over 310,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing at least 67,000 passenger vehicles from the road for a year.

Renewable energy forms a cornerstone of Crown’s sustainability strategy. The PV project’s VPPA will directly contribute to Crown’s Twentyby30™ program’s Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved goal of achieving 75% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2040.

John Rost, Senior Vice President – Corporate Technology, Sustainability, and Regulatory Affairs, expressed the significance of covering energy consumption in the EU as a milestone achievement.

He emphasized the importance of identifying and implementing tangible solutions to reduce energy consumption, lower emissions, and create a more balanced footprint across all regions of operation.

John Powers, VP Global Renewables at Schneider Electric, lauded Crown’s leadership in the packaging industry’s decarbonization efforts, affirming the pivotal role of the agreement in advancing the company’s environmental and sustainability initiatives.

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