AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, DSM, Google and Philips have started receiving power from the Bouwdokken windfarm in the Netherlands - a milestone achievement resulting from a unique green energy purchasing consortium they jointly established. In October 2016 and January 2017, the companies signed two long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) that enabled construction of two Dutch windfarm projects - Krammer and Bouwdokken. It is the first time that a group of multinationals in the Netherlands have teamed up to negotiate long-term PPAs directly with project developers, bypassing the involvement of an energy utility company.

This marks the next big step towards a new way of supplying energy for Dutch industry. We brought together a group of companies that is united in its sustainability leadership. We believe it is of utmost importance to join forces and come up with innovative partnerships to achieve the sustainability goals of our companies as well as those set out in the Paris climate agreement."  Marcel Galjee, Energy Director at AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, on behalf of the consortium.

By working together they are making a significant contribution to delivering on the Netherlands’ renewable energy target of 14% by 2020. All four companies are also members of the RE100, a collaborative global initiative uniting more than 100 businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity, working to massively increase demand for - and delivery of - renewable energy.

The collaboration and progress as shown in this initiative is well recognized outside the Netherlands. I receive questions from all over the world to explain this success story....Looking back historically, it’s interesting to note that this project was developed near the Delta Works, another visionary feat that is highly regarded outside the Netherlands."  Harry Coorens, VP Procurement Sustainability at Royal DSM

When both Dutch windfarms are fully operational, 100% of Philips’ activities in the Netherlands will be powered by Dutch wind energy, an important milestone in the company’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2020.