SP Group And SABECO Partner To Install Rooftop Solar Panels In Vietnam Breweries

SP Group (SP), a utility group and sustainable energy solutions provider in Singapore and the Asia Pacific, and Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation (SABECO), Vietnam’s leading beer manufacturer and distributor, have signed a partnership to install 10.44 Megawatt-peak (MWp) of rooftop solar panels in nine breweries operated by SABECO across Vietnam.

As part of the partnership, SP will install rooftop solar panels at SABECO’s breweries in Cu Chi, Lam Dong, Ha Tinh, Hanoi, Tay Do, Vinh Long, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Bac Lieu and Quang Ngai. The project, which is targeted to be completed and operational by the third quarter of 2023, will effectively provide close to 25 per cent of electricity consumed at the factories. It is expected to deliver over 14,600 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually, enough to power about 4,082 households in Vietnam. This will also help SABECO to reduce its carbon emissions by close to 10,000 tonnes annually, which is equivalent to taking about 2,200 cars off the road.

Mr Brandon Chia, Managing Director, Sustainable Energy Solutions, Southeast Asia & Australia, SP Group, said, “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to facilitate the clean energy transition of our 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 in co-creating a more sustainable future for Vietnam.”

Mr Bennett Neo, General Director of SABECO, emphasized that, “SABECO always seeks to formulate initiatives and solutions that will ensure stable and sustainable business operations for the Company. Over the past few years, we have already embarked on various initiatives covering ESG (Environment, Society and Governance) through our 4C corporate social responsibility pillars (Consumption, Conservation, Culture and Country), as well as our Best Brewery Awards initiative that is consistent with the Corporation’s general objectives and support the National Green Growth objectives for the period 2021-2030, vision towards 2050”.

In an effort to fulfil the commitment to promote sustainable development initiatives in business operations and foster a sustainable community, SABECO has developed a sustainable development model to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Part of its strategy is to reduce water and energy consumption at its breweries with the help of technology and innovative sustainable solutions.

To achieve net-zero emissions, SABECO and SP will study the feasibility of incorporating other sustainable energy solutions such as energy storage systems (ESS) at selected breweries. The incorporation of ESS will allow SABECO to manage the issue of supply intermittency, as solar power can fluctuate due to weather conditions. The ESS will also maximise the solar energy produced and used at the various breweries.

The recent partnership with SABECO continues SP’s commitment to contribute towards Vietnam’s sustainability targets through the proliferation of various sustainable energy solutions. Over the last year, SP announced a target to install 1.5 Gigawatts (GW) of utility scale and rooftop solar projects by 2025.