UPM Signs Long Term Wind Power Purchase Agreement with German Wind Park Development Company wpd
UPM Communication Papers has committed to purchasing the majority share of the annual electricity production of a wind project build by wpd, totaling approximately 4 TWh over the duration of the contract.
February 12, 2020 - UPM said that it has signed a long-term Wind Power Purchase agreement with German wind park development company wpd. The use of renewable wind power for UPM's paper mills will help reduce CO2 emissions by 200,000 tonnes annually as of 2022, representing 5% of UPM's total CO2 emissions. For UPM, this is an important step towards achieving the company's ambitious 65% CO2 emission reduction target by 2030. "Responsible industry players around the world have to take ownership of responding to climate change and evolve the way they operate," said Winfried Schaur, Executive Vice President UPM Communication Papers. "At UPM Communication Papers we are convinced that the long term future of paper as a product will depend on a carefully managed environmental footprint. Consequently, we consider our stringent focus on sustainability a prerequisite for our future competitiveness." UPM Communication Papers has committed to purchasing the majority share of the annual electricity production of a wind project build by wpd, totaling approximately 4 TWh over the duration of the contract. The wind project will be built in Finland and is planned to run for 25-30 years. The contract will support the long-term competitiveness of UPM Communication Papers by providing renewable electricity at competitive prices. "Over the last six months, we have decided on investments in sustainable power and heat generation projects as well as strategic partnerships that will lead to a total reduction of CO2 emissions by 600,000 tonnes annually. This is equivalent to 12% of UPM's total emissions in 2018. And we will continue to pursue tangible actions supporting an improved environmental performance," Schaur explained. In 2019, UPM announced to build a combined heat and power (CHP) plant at its Nordland Paper Mill in Dörpen, Germany, reducing annual CO2 emissions by 300,000 tonnes as of 2023. UPM also partnered with E.ON, who announced to build a biomass fired boiler providing steam for UPM's Hürth paper mill. It will reduce UPM's CO2 emissions by 100,000 tonnes per year as of 2021. Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Paper ENA and UPM Plywood. To learn more, please visit: www.upm.com SOURCE: UPM |