SABIC secures 300GWh renewable wind power for its Geleen site in the Netherlands

SABIC has established a long-term power purchase agreement through its JV Utility Support Group (USG) B.V. for the supply of renewable power to its petrochemicals site in Geleen, the Netherlands. 

The supply of renewable power officially started on 1 January 2022 and provides an annual supply of 300 GWh renewable wind power from the newly built Fryslân Wind Farm in the Netherlands. The power purchase agreement will provide 30% of SABIC’s annual power demand at Geleen, enabling SABIC to reduce its indirect CO2 emissions by 120,000 MT, similar to the emissions reduction potential of 3 million trees.

The agreement marks another significant development for SABIC’s global carbon neutrality strategy, announced last year. Renewables will be a key enabler in the company’s aim to reach carbon neutrality in the operations under its control by 2050, factoring in the different regional and national ambitions, commitments and initiatives.

Frank Kuijpers, general manager of Corporate Sustainability at SABIC, said: “This new agreement brings us closer to realizing our ambition to have a 4GW mixture of wind and solar energy installed for all sites globally by 2025, rising to 12GW by 2030. The supply of renewable power to our Geleen site builds on our 2020 announcement that our chemical plant in Cartagena, Spain, is set to become the first of its size in the world to run on 100% renewable power by 2024. We are continually evaluating new initiatives and technologies to support the rollout of renewable power across our global operations.” 

This announcement also follows another significant development for SABIC in Geleen at the start of 2021, when the company began construction of the world’s first commercial unit for advanced recycling. 

Commenting on these two important developments for the Geleen site, general manager John Bruijnooge said: “In the chemical industry, sustainability is about achieving full circularity. Coupled with our new advanced recycling unit, which is currently under construction, this renewable energy agreement will support us in delivering even more sustainable products and making our production processes more sustainable too.”   

SABIC recognizes that to succeed in today’s global marketplace, sustainability must be embedded in the way it conducts business. Remaining competitive and meeting customers’ demands will drive increased production of sustainable materials going forward – namely, recycling used plastics into an alternative feedstock for producing new, high-end circular products and services.