SBS is set to become the first Australian media outlet to switch to 100% renewable energy.
SBS has announced a landmark agreement with ZEN Energy to supply its operations in New South Wales and Victoria with 100 per cent renewable energy for the next decade. This move makes SBS the first media organisation in Australia to fully transition to renewable energy.
Under the agreement, ZEN Energy will provide power through the 226.8MW Collector Wind Farm in NSW, paired with Large-scale Generation Certificates. SBS‘s commitment is a significant step towards its goal of achieving Net Zero emissions across all scopes by 2045.
Nitsa Niarchos, SBS Chief Financial Officer, stated,
“SBS is proud to lead the way in the media industry by committing to 100% renewable energy. Our partnership with ZEN Energy underscores our commitment to sustainability and sets a new standard for reducing carbon emissions in media. Our goal is to inspire others in the industry to take meaningful steps towards a greener future.”
Abigail Thomas, SBS Head of Sustainability, emphasised the long-term impact of the deal, saying,
“This 10-year agreement with ZEN Energy through wind power ensures that SBS’s commitment to carbon reduction is not just a short-term initiative but a long-term strategy. By securing a decade of 100% renewable energy, we are taking significant steps towards our Net Zero targets and demonstrating our dedication to sustainability efforts and innovation in Australia’s media sector.”
Anthony Garnaut, CEO of ZEN Energy, highlighted SBS‘s leadership role, stating,
“SBS is already an industry leader in community engagement and a champion of diversity. ZEN is honoured to be able to now assist SBS deepen its connections to Australians by becoming an industry leader in climate action.
“As part of our responsibilities under the Science-Based Targets Initiative, ZEN has voluntarily committed to reduce its scope 3 (sold electricity) emissions. This means we are partnering with our customers to transition their contracts to 100 per cent renewable electricity, and we’ve committed to only sign new contracts where 100 per cent renewable is achieved within the contract period.”
SBS has set the most ambitious environmental target of any Australian media outlet, aiming for Net Zero across scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2045. It has also teamed up with Scope3 to measure emissions from advertising technology, offering greater transparency to advertising clients regarding their carbon footprints.
ZEN Energy was the first Australian energy company to commit to the global Science-based Targets initiative for corporate climate action. SBS has also applied to have its Net Zero targets validated by the initiative.
The Collector Wind Farm, which began operations in 2022, consists of 54 turbines producing 528GWh annually. This output is sufficient to power 80,000 homes in NSW and reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 320,000 tonnes each year. The wind farm also features a community benefit sharing scheme, setting a high standard for industry practices.
When the taxpayer pays for it. Wasting taxpayers money.sbs should be privatised .yet AirNZ abandoned its it climate targets as unachievable
What about the transmitters? Are they included in this claim too, and their cloud data centre provider for SBS On-Demand?
So not focusing on making Television just transmitting virtue signalling.
They can do a show on how 1.5 billion more dollars are just about to be thrown at the snowy hydro to get Florence out by sending in a machine in from the other side 🧐😬🤪🔫
About 22 years ago, residential customers of Energy Australia could elect to have electricity from renewable energy sources fed into the home.
If the occupier elected for green power, they were paid an extra four cents a kilowatt hour.
The renewable sources of power were fed into the wires as the power from coal-generated power stations.
One doesn’t know whether one is getting their power from renewable or coal-fired sources.
The neighbour may not have elected to pay extra and still gets the power from either reneable sources or coal.
So how does SBS know that the electrons arriving at their facilities are from renewables or coal?
Surely SBS’s neighbours will be getting their power through the same wires as SBS and they may or may not have done a deal with a renewable energy provider.
I am not convinced that SBS is guaranteed that their power will come from renewable sources especially at night or on a cloudy day.
Thanks
What a load of bs