Sabeco works with SP Group to install rooftop solar panels at 9 breweries

The Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (Sabeco) and the SP Group signed an MoU on May 15 formalizing a partnership to expand the second phase of installation and operation of a rooftop solar energy system with a maximum output of 10.44 MWp at nine Sabeco breweries.

This will bring the total number of breweries adopting solar energy in Sabeco’s system to 17 by the end of this year.

The first phase kicked off in 2020, with Sabeco investing more than VND107 billion ($4.5 million) into rooftop solar power systems with a maximum output of 9 MWp at its Cu Chi, Dak Lak, Phu Yen, Quy Nhon, Song Lam, Khanh Hoa, Soc Trang, and Ben Tre breweries. The success of first phase implementation led to the expansion of the second phase with an additional nine breweries.

Under the MoU, SP is commissioned to install and operate rooftop solar panels at nine of Sabeco’s breweries, including Cu Chi (expansion), Lam Dong, Ha Tinh, Hanoi, Tay Do, Vinh Long, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Bac Lieu, and Quang Ngai.

Installation is scheduled to be completed and the system is expected to go into full operation by the end of the third quarter of this year. All of its 17 breweries are estimated to efficiently provide almost 23 per cent of electricity consumption, amounting to 25 million kWh in electricity savings, or 18,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. This will contribute to the company’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Mr. Bennett Neo, General Director of Sabeco, said it always looks to implement initiatives and solutions that support its sustainable business operations. “Over the past few years, we have embarked on various ESG (environment, social, governance) initiatives through our 4C corporate social responsibility pillars (Consumption, Conservation, Culture and Country),” he added. “We also have implemented Best Brewery Awards to encourage our breweries to embed a sustainability mindset consistent with Sabeco’s vision and our commitment to National Green Growth objectives for the 2021-2030 period.”

Mr. Brandon Chia, Managing Director, Sustainable Energy Solutions (Southeast Asia & Australia), at the SP Group said the partnership demonstrates its commitment to facilitating the clean energy transition of its customers by advancing the adoption of renewable energy sources for manufacturing facilities. “Leveraging our comprehensive range of sustainable energy solutions, we look forward to supporting Sabeco towards their energy efficiency goals and co-creating a more sustainable future for Vietnam,” he said.

To maximize the solar energy generated and consumed at Sabeco’s breweries, both parties will study the feasibility of incorporating energy storage systems (ESS) at selected breweries, which would allow Sabeco to manage the issue of supply intermittency, as solar power can fluctuate due to weather conditions.

Apart from energy use, Sabeco has also implemented various initiatives to mitigate environmental impacts. These include driving continuous improvement in water use, where Sabeco has reduced waste used per liter of beer produced from 5 liters in 2018 to below 3 liters in 2022. It has also embarked on plant-based biomass fuel (using rice husks, sawdust, cashew shells, and leaves) instead of using fossil fuel-powered boilers, applying the CIP wastewater treatment system, using sustainable packaging (by down gauging its cans, light weighting its cartons and bottles), and reusing beer glass and cans.

Sabeco also promotes other sustainability initiatives that focus on the local communities where it operates.