HP has become the latest global business to join the RE100 campaign, committing to meet all of its electricity demand with renewable energy.
According to The Climate Group, which leads the initiative, the company is currently sourcing 13% of its global electricity usage from renewables. HP has set an initial target to increase this to 40% by 2020 with the aim of going 100% renewable in the future, although no specific date for this has been published.
Nate Hurst, chief sustainability & social impact officer for HP, said: “Joining RE100 represents a significant milestone for our company as we continue to move toward a business that is powered entirely by renewable electricity.
“As we continue to reinvent a more sustainable business and society, both cost-effective and low carbon sources of energy are essential to the future and the growth of HP’s business. This commitment is guided by our belief in a world where technology and sustainability can combine to become a powerful force for innovation, helping reinvent how businesses, communities, and individuals can thrive.”
The company will seek to meet its pledge by “aggressively” reducing its energy consumption through the implementation of new building and operations efficiencies, as well as installing energy-saving products.
It will also increase its use of on-site renewable energy as well as increase its purchasing of renewable power through renewable energy credits (RECs) and power purchase agreements (PPAs).
HP is already utilising PPAs in the US to increase its share of renewable energy use after signing a 12-year virtual agreement in 2015 for 112MW of wind power for its Texas data centers.
Amy Davidsen, executive director for North America at The Climate Group, said: “We’ve worked closely with HP and the company’s dedication to building sustainability into the business is clear. We welcome HP’s leadership following the COP21 climate change negotiations and its commitment toward driving forward the clean revolution – benefiting both the environment and the economy.”
By joining the RE100, HP follows recent additions Sky and Bloomberg who signed up to the scheme in recent weeks. Well over 50 firms have signed up to the campaign, the majority of which are expected to reach an average of 80% renewable electricity by 2020.
