Accolade Wines has installed a wind turbine to power its Avonmouth distribution centre near Bristol in the UK.
The 2.5MW machine was installed with the help of renewable energy specialists CleanEarth and following agreement with the landlord of the 128,000 square kilometre site.
The site is managed by Roebuck Asset Management on behalf of the unnamed owners.
Accolade Wines general manager of European operations Richard Lloyd said: “This single turbine will save 2500 tonnes in carbon emissions every year while significantly reducing our energy bills.
“Our commitment to identifying and delivering sustainable operations is passionately owned by everyone at Accolade Wines.
“The urgent need to decarbonise our electricity was becoming more evident and having our own wind turbine was the optimum solution. So we were determined to find a way to make this happen.”
CleanEarth managing director Dean Robson said: “This was never going to be easy. But we knew that it was achievable with the right partner.
“We’re proud to have worked alongside Accolade Wines. It’s taken a lot of time and effort, but the result would have been impossible without this shared determination and vision.”
Roebuck Asset Management director Charlie Seaton said: “This is a pioneering renewable energy initiative in the commercial property sector, but entirely fitting for a tenant as progressive as Accolade Wines.
“We are confident it will set a precedent that others are sure to follow.
“Pressure from all quarters – shareholders, consumers, politicians, the media – it’s only going to increase.
“Landlords need to be alive to these challenges and should be setting their own environmental commitments.”
He added that developing on-site renewables for tenants is also a way for property owners to add value to their assets.
“As more businesses require carbon-free energy as part of their sustainability obligation, landlords will gain competitive advantage if it’s available at the point of consumption,” he said.