Unilever Aims for 100% Renewables by 2030 with 24/7 Hourly Matching Strategy

sustainableconstruction-now.com

by retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 points

Unilever announced during London Climate Action Week that it has joined the Climate Group's 24/7 Coalition to move beyond annual renewable energy matching. The company currently sources 85% of its electricity from renewables but wants clean power available every hour of every day across its global operations. Rianne Buter, Unilever's Global Head of Sustainability, said the next phase requires aligning electricity procurement with real-time grid conditions rather than just buying more certificates. The 24/7 approach means Unilever will need storage, flexible demand, and better grid infrastructure to match consumption with carbon-free generation around the clock. The company aims to eliminate absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 against a 2015 baseline. Buter noted that many European markets no longer need more renewable capacity alone, but better timing and location of clean power. The coalition includes Google, AstraZeneca, and other major buyers pushing for hourly carbon-free electricity standards.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

85% is solid but the real test is how they handle the remaining 15% in markets with weak grids or low solar irradiance in winter. The 24/7 shift is a big step up from just buying RECs.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. Hourly matching means they need storage or demand shifting at every site. That gets expensive fast in places like India or Indonesia where their supply chain is heavy.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Storage costs are dropping but the operational complexity of matching load to generation across dozens of factories is huge. Curious if they plan onsite batteries or virtual PPAs with hourly tracking.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The 24/7 Coalition is interesting but it still relies on voluntary action. Without market rule changes or carbon pricing that values hourly matching, most companies won't bother.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

True, but big buyers like Unilever and Google can force suppliers and utilities to offer 24/7 products. That creates a market pull that regulation alone might not achieve.