Wednesday, 22 April 2015 09:44

P&G Takes Bold Step Toward Total Renewable Energy with New Biomass Plant

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Scrap wood to create 100% of the steam needed to run one of Company’s largest paper manufacturing facilities

P&G aims to one day run all of its manufacturing facilities on renewable energy. Now, we have taken a big stride in that direction by announcing an agreement to develop a 50-megawatt biomass plant that will help run our Bounty paper towel & Charmin toilet tissue plant in Albany, Georgia USA.

The biomass plant will turn scrap wood into steam and electricity, providing 100% of the steam we need to make Bounty and Charmin. What’s more, the incoming biomass will provide up to 60-70% of the site's overall energy needs.

biomass infographic 1200pxHere's an infographic that shows how the biomass plant will work (click to see full size):

When it opens in 2017, the biomass plant will significantly increase our use of renewable energy, moving us closer to our goal of obtaining 30% of our total energy from renewable sources by 2020 and 100% one day in the future.

We currently get 8% of our energy from renewable sources including wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. This new project will get us nearly halfway to our 2020 goal.

“As this project enables us to operate one of  our largest global plants with a renewable energy source, it will reduce the environmental footprint of two leading brands, Bounty and Charmin. We see this as a win for our business, consumers, partners and the environment.”
Martin Riant, P&G Executive Sponsor of Sustainability and Group President, Global Baby and Feminine & Family Care

The project has been in the works for nearly two years, and has included more than a dozen partners. The $200-million plant will be built, owned and operated by Constellation, a leading retail supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services, and a subsidiary of the Exelon Corporation.

In addition to steam for P&G, the plant also will create electricity that Constellation will sell to local utility Georgia Power, who will then share it with residents across the state. Several local, state and federal officials and other companies also supported the project.

“This is a Connect+Develop project on steroids,” said P&G’s Global Business Development Manager Bob Bourbon, who helped structure the partnerships to make the project a reality.

The new plant will replace an aging biomass boiler that has been providing about 30 percent of the total energy needed to run the Albany site for the last 34 years. “We’ve been committed to biomass for generations. This project takes us to a heightened level of commitment and benefit,” said Len Sauers, Vice President, Global Sustainability.

 

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