BaptistCare signs innovative renewable energy agreement
BaptistCare has signed an industry-leading Power Purchase Agreement linking operations in NSW and ACT to renewable energy from January 2025.
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20 November 2023
News
| BaptistCare
This 10-year agreement with one of Australia’s fastest growing energy retailers, Flow Power, will enable BaptistCare to deliver care for vulnerable Australians in a more environmentally sustainable way.
Utilising a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement), BaptistCare will purchase around 15,000 megawatt hours each year from state-of-the-art solar and wind farms in NSW from 2025. Enough energy to power around 1,400 homes.
This will allow BaptistCare to reduce the carbon footprint of its NSW and ACT operations by 70% (off a 2022 baseline of scope 1 and 2 emissions).
This PPA will play a key role in the organisation’s roadmap to become net zero by 2050 or before.
“BaptistCare is committed to reaching net zero in our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 or before, and this PPA with Flow Power forms a key part of our credible roadmap to get there,” said Thomas Griffiths, Head of Strategy & Investments for BaptistCare NSW, ACT and WA.
“We will save around 11,000 tonnes of carbon per year, which is like taking 25,000 petrol-powered cars off the road over the 10 years of the agreement.”
“It’s also a way to ensure BaptistCare is a part of the just transition. We care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, and this PPA, paired with other initiatives, is one part of our commitment to caring for people, planet and the community. We are proud to help lead the aged care and community sector towards a just transition to renewable energy,” Thomas Griffiths said.
Byron Serjeantson, Chief Operating Officer for Flow Power said: “We congratulate BaptistCare on today's announcement and applaud their commitment to the community and the environment. This agreement represents a significant milestone on their 2050 net zero roadmap, and an important moment for the wider aged care sector. At Flow Power we are incredibly passionate about providing energy plans that utilise renewable electricity at a fair cost for all. Through this partnership we are proud to be helping the BaptistCare team and their resident community play a role in Australia’s energy transition”.
Along with obtaining supply linked to renewable energy sources and large-scale generation certificates (LGCs) from Flow Power, the agreement will complement other environmental and sustainability initiatives from BaptistCare. These include the installation of solar panels at residential aged care homes, and efforts to reduce scope 3 emissions such as through improved recycling practices.
“The scale of these challenges requires innovation and collaboration. We are grateful for the support from the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change and the Sustainability Advantage Program to develop our net zero pathway and identify opportunities to reduce our emissions,” said Charles Moore, CEO of BaptistCare NSW, ACT and WA.
“In addition to sustainability benefits, the project also delivers cost certainty and strong business outcomes, and we encourage others in the sector to actively consider how they can also play a role in accelerating this renewables transition,” Charles said.
The partnership between BaptistCare and Flow Power offers a practical leadership example of collaboration to build resilient and climate-friendly care, and ensure vulnerable communities and people, such as seniors, are included in the transition to a renewable society.
Image Credit: Byron Serjeantson, Flow Power, and Thomas Griffiths, BaptistCare NSW and ACT, discuss the PPA agreement onsite at BaptistCare Shalom Aged Care Home.