Global: RE100 companies half of the way to 100% renewable electricity goals

The latest available data (2014) from (45) RE100 companies shows that those in the retail sector have switched the largest amount of electricity to renewables (10,764,000 megawatt/hours in 2014), while those in the Information and Communication Technology sector are closest to reaching their 100% renewable electricity goals (on average they are 64% of the way there).

Taking into account company interim and end goals for reaching 100% renewable electricity, RE100 projects that the current group of 53 RE100 companies will reach an average of 80% renewable electricity by 2020.

“The good news is that RE100 companies in every sector have made progress towards their 100% goals – or in some cases, have already got there”, says Emily Farnworth, RE100 Campaign Director at The Climate Group. “The companies that have been able to make the switch more easily are those with smaller power requirements operating mainly in the US or Europe – where renewable electricity options are most readily accessible.”

When all 53 RE100 companies are 100% powered by renewables, they’d create enough renewable electricity demand to power Hong Kong and Singapore combined, and “today’s report shows they are well on their way,” she adds. “Of course we need to carry on growing the campaign and get more and more companies committed to 100% renewable electricity. Following on from the success of COP21 in Paris, business has a real opportunity to support the transition to renewable power and help deliver major carbon cuts.”

Looking more closely at the options being used, RE100 has identified a trend for IT companies building new research labs and data centers to use power purchasing agreements and on-site generation, while many European companies are making the most of credible options to purchase 'green power’ directly from the grid.

Image: Average progress of RE100 companies against 100% goal (by sector, 2014). From the report "Growing market demand for renewable power"

Roberto Zanchi, Technical Manager, Renewable Energy at CDP, says: “This report shows us that business corporations around the world are stepping up in making commitments to renewable energy and working with RE100 to drive forward a global market for renewable energy. By reporting to CDP on their transition to clean energy and the sharing of best practices, RE100 companies are demonstrating strong transparency and accountability which are essential in developing a vibrant, well-functioning market."

Through its Technical Working Group RE100 provides guidance to companies around the best renewable electricity options available in different markets. Through its Knowledge Sharing Platform and a series of workshops and webinars, RE100 is also enabling peer-to-peer learning.

To increase the scale and pace of the transition to renewables, RE100 plans to do the following going forward:

• Use the RE100 Knowledge Sharing Platform to raise awareness of the options available now to companies, and the business benefits of switching
• Work with the Rocky Mountain Institute Business Renewables Center on aggregating demand for renewable power to enable more competitive rates
• Encourage RE100 companies to sign up to the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles, led by WWF and World Resources Institute, to engage utilities in the US who are failing to respond to business demand for renewable power
• Work with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)’s Low Carbon Technology Partnership initiative on renewable power, to identify financing models to address risks associated with long term infrastructure investment
• Work with IRENA to ensure the business community around the world is engaged in shaping the energy future, and as part of IRENA’s Coalition for Action to help raise awareness of the benefits of renewables.

There are currently 53 companies in the RE100 campaign, including: Adobe, Alstria, Autodesk, Aviva, Biogen, BMW Group, BROAD Group, BT Group, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Commerzbank, DSM, Elion Resources Group, Elopak, Formula E, Givaudan, Goldman Sachs, Google, H&M, IKEA Group, Infosys, ING, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.(IFF), J. Safra Sarasin, Johnson & Johnson, Kingspan, KPN, La Poste, Land Securities, Marks & Spencer, Mars Incorporated, Microsoft, Nestlé, Nike, Inc., Nordea Bank AB, Novo Nordisk, Pearson, Philips, Procter & Gamble, Proximus, RELX Group, Salesforce, SAP, SGS, Starbucks, Steelcase, Swiss Post, Swiss Re, UBS, Unilever, Vaisala, Voya Financial, Walmart and YOOX Group

• Find out more about our RE100 campaign to encourage the world's most influential companies to go 100% renewable