Aged care goes green with renewable wind and solar power agreement

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

Aged care and community services provider BaptistCare NSW, ACT and WA has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Flow Power, linking energy use from its NSW and ACT operations to renewable generation from January 2025.

The PPA will allow BaptistCare to purchase around 15,000 megawatt hours each year from solar and wind farms in NSW from 2025. This will reduce the carbon footprint of its NSW and ACT operations by 70% (off a 2022 baseline of Scope 1 and 2 emissions).

“BaptistCare is committed to reaching net zero in our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 or before, and this PPA with Flow Power forms a key part of our credible roadmap to get there,” said Thomas Griffiths, Head of Strategy & Investments for BaptistCare NSW, ACT and WA.

“We will save around 11,000 tonnes of carbon per year, which is like taking 25,000 petrol-powered cars off the road over the 10 years of the agreement.¹

“It’s also a way to ensure BaptistCare is a part of the just transition. We care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, and this PPA, paired with other initiatives, is one part of our commitment to caring for people, planet and the community. We are proud to help lead the aged care and community sector towards a just transition to renewable energy,” Griffiths said.

Byron Serjeantson, Chief Operating Officer for Flow Power, said: “This agreement represents a significant milestone on their 2050 net zero roadmap, and an important moment for the wider aged care sector.”

Along with obtaining supply linked to renewable energy sources and large-scale generation certificates (LGCs) from Flow Power, the agreement will complement other environmental and sustainability initiatives from BaptistCare. These include the installation of solar panels at residential aged care homes and efforts to reduce Scope 3 emissions such as through improved recycling practices.

“The scale of these challenges requires innovation and collaboration. We are grateful for the support from the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change and the Sustainability Advantage Program to develop our net zero pathway and identify opportunities to reduce our emissions,” said Charles Moore, CEO of BaptistCare NSW, ACT and WA.

_{¹ EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator: Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator | US EPA}