H&M Group is partnering with Lightsource BP to construct a large-scale solar farm in Texas, USA, as part of their climate goals. The fashion giant has signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with global solar leader Lightsource BP for a 125 MW Second Division solar project, which will play a significant role in reducing H&M Group’s carbon footprint. Lightsource BP is a subsidiary of British Petroleum (BP) and Europe’s largest solar energy developer.
The project is set to deliver affordable electricity to the local grid. This initiative is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 155,000 metric tons each year. Ulrika Leverenz, Head of Green Investments at H&M Group, emphasized the importance of moving beyond simply using certificates and contributing to more clean energy. “By partnering with solar and wind farm developers, we are helping to build renewable electricity capacity in grids around the world,” she said.
In their press release, H&M Group stated that the “group continues its work towards sourcing 100% renewable electricity in its own operations no later than 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.” This includes their target to source more than half of their electricity from power purchase agreements (PPAs) with new renewable electricity generation.
H&M Group signed a multi-year energy contract with Lightsource BP in 2021 to build renewable electricity projects, including PPAs with solar and wind farms in other parts of the world.
In line with the Swedish fashion giant’s mission to approach climate and nature holistically, Lightsource BP has taken the project’s impact on local biodiversity into consideration. The project occupies less than 10 percent of the land, allowing for the planting of native grasses and other vegetation under and around the solar panels. Additionally, the project is expected to integrate agriculture through sheep grazing.
The Brazoria County solar farm is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. The solar farm will deliver enough electricity to power an estimated 20,500 U.S. homes each year, equivalent to removing the carbon emissions of 33,300 fuel-burning cars from the road.
