The share-owned dairy group Arla, the largest in the UK, has signed an agreement with French state-owned electricity group Engie and UK-based Infinis to establish two solar farms. 

The two solar farms in Boston and Offham in the UK are expected to be operational by 2024 and will supply around 20% of the energy used by Arla’s total UK production, the company writes in a press release. 

The initiative will help the group reach its climate goals and is part of the established strategy, according to Fran Ball, production director at Arla UK. 

”As part of our Climate Action Roadmap, we will be switching to 100% renewable electricity across UK production sites by the end of 2025, which will contribute 58% of the emissions reductions we need to make in production by 2030. Additionally, 100% recyclable packaging will be used across branded products by end of 2025 and will be helping our farmers to adapt more sustainable feed production practices,” she says.

Both solar farms will be located on former landfill sites.

James Milne, commercial director at Infinis, which generates power from methane from landfills and coal mines, points out that the decision to locate the plants on landfill sites helps to secure more agricultural land. 

”We’re proud to be working with Engie and Arla to deliver clean renewable power and support their net zero commitment. Partnerships like this help to protect higher grade agricultural land from development – supporting both food security and energy security – and we hope will pave the way for many more such projects,” he says. 

(This article is provided by our Danish sister media, AgriWatch)