Blue Grass Solar Farm, located in Australia and built by X-ELIO, is now operational, marking the official launch of Salesforce’s first international renewable energy agreement.

Why it’s important: The electricity produced by Blue Grass helps Salesforce continue its commitment to net zero residual emissions and 100% renewable energy for its global operations.

• In 2020, Salesforce agreed to purchase 25% of Blue Grass’ 200 megawatt (MW) output to match the electricity used by the company’s Australia operations.

The Salesforce perspective: “The Blue Grass agreement is critical to our vision for a net zero world,” said Pip Marlow, CEO of ANZ and ASEAN, Salesforce.

• “Every step closer to a future where renewable energy is powering the world is worth celebrating,” Marlow continued.

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Driving the news: Salesforce identified the Blue Grass project using its renewable energy procurement matrix, an assessment tool that scores a project based on its environmental, cultural, and social impacts. Blue Grass scored highly in the following matrix categories:

• High avoided emissions: Blue Grass has the highest avoided emissions rate of any project in Salesforce’s portfolio, over twice that of a comparable project in California.
• Land use: Blue Grass is sited on land with low ecological value, avoiding sensitive vegetation and wildlife habitats.
• Community engagement: In addition to creating hundreds of jobs, X-ELIO is dedicating a percentage of the project’s annual gross income to a Community Support and Benefit Sharing Program, which will support local community projects.

Fast facts:

• The Blue Grass Solar Farm can generate enough electricity to power 80,000 local homes and save more than 320,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
• It uses advanced technology, including 375,000 bifacial solar panels and half-cut cells, enhancing performance and efficiency to help decrease costs.
• Four hundred local jobs were created during the solar farm’s two-year construction, with the project delivering over $200 million worth of economic impact.
• It is one of the 50 large-scale renewable projects that will help support the Queensland Government’s Renewable Energy Target to generate 70% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2032, and 80% by 2035.

Go deeper:

• Read a blog post by Salesforce ANZ and ASEAN CEO Pip Marlow on why Blue Grass is important and why other businesses should support renewable energy generation. 
• Read the full news announcement from X-Elio here.
• Check out the 6 Actions to Start Creating a Climate Action Plan Now.
• Find additional insights on how to procure renewable energy in More Than a Megawatt: Embedding Social & Environmental Impact in the Renewable Energy Procurement Process.
• Take the Trail to Net Zero for Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.