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Arla Foods has opened a 1,620 MWh per year solar power plant in Poland, following an investment of about €3 million. The installation is located on site at Arla's repackaging facility in Tychowo, which has experienced reoccurring power cuts and dropouts during the course of the war in Ukraine. The new solar plant will meet around 85% of the site’s total energy needs. Executive vice president and head of supply chain, David Boulanger, commented: “This is a sensible investment on all levels. Not only does it make securing business continuity easier for our employees, but it also reduces run rate costs at the site and creates a more sustainable energy source, showing the way for future energy investments in the region.” According to Arla, the Polish energy grid relies heavily on coal, a highly carbon intensive fuel. By installing its own solar power plant, the company says that it is able to reduce emissions by 1,645 tonnes per year. Boulanger added: “At Arla Foods, we want to lead in sustainable dairy. That also means that if there isn’t a sustainable solution in place, we will go the extra mile and create our own, and that is exactly what we have done in Tychowo. Even if it’s not one of our biggest sites in terms of energy consumption, it shows that we put action behind our words when it comes to improving our operations and... 100% renewable electricity in Europe by the end of 2025.” The run rate cost will be reduced by more than 75% per year, which is expected to result in the investment paying itself back within approximately seven years. The Tychowo solar power plant is Arla Foods’ latest investment in renewable energy, after the company entered into a 250,000 MWh per year partnership in Denmark and installed a 2,500 MWh per year solar power plant in Bahrain.