Samsung is increasing focus on renewable energy
Company will seek to further increase its use of renewable energy around the world in the medium to long-term
Samsung Electronics has issued a statement saying that it plans to increase its focus on energy efficiency, reducing operational emissions and using more renewable energy in its operations.
The Korean firm says its goal is to source renewable energy for 100% its factories, office buildings and operational facilities in the US, Europe and China by 2020. According to Samsung, it chose those markets as they are equipped with the infrastructure for the development and transmission of renewable energy.
“Samsung Electronics is fulfilling its duty as a corporate citizen by expanding and supporting the use of renewable energy. As demonstrated by our expanded commitment, we are focused on protecting our planet and are doing our part as a global environmental steward.” said Won Kyong Kim, EVP and head of Global Public Affairs at Samsung Electronics.
Commenting on its home market, Samsung Electronics notes that it fully supports the government’s national strategic plan to increase renewable energy use by 20% by 2030. In line with this, the firm is kicking off its commitment with the installation of approximately 42,000sqm of solar panels in Samsung Digital City, its headquarters in Suwon. Additionally, it will add approximately 21,000sqm of solar arrays and geothermal power generation facilities to its Pyeongtaek and Hwaseong campuses in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Through its efforts, the firm says it will increase the use of renewable energy globally to match the equivalent amount of energy created by an average 3.1GW solar power plant by 2020. This is said to be comparable to the annual energy consumption of about 115,000 four-person Korean households.
The company also announced that it has joined the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF’s) Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles and the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewables Center.
“We welcome Samsung Electronics’ declaration to expand the roll-out of renewable energy across its global sites,” said Jochem Verberne, Global Partnerships director, WWF. “This is an important step and we look forward to working with Samsung on further measures to reduce the company’s climate impact across its value chains.”
As part of its extended strategy, Samsung Electronics will also engage partners across the supply chain. In 2019, Samsung plans to work with its top 100 partner companies to help them set their own renewable energy targets, in partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project Supply Chain Program, which the company intends to join next year.
