AUSTRALIA | In a significant move towards achieving its net zero emissions by 2050 commitment, Mars, Incorporated has announced that its Wodonga pet food facility will become Australia's first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site.
Mars Wodonga produces PEDIGREE and WHISKAS and will deploy a 100 percent renewable energy solution for both electricity and process steam within the next two years.
Craig Sargeant, General Manager of Mars Petcare Australia and New Zealand, was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a tour of the Wodonga site. He shared his enthusiasm for the ground-breaking initiative, which aligned with the company’s broader global net zero by 2050 ambitions.
“We are incredibly proud to announce that Mars will be the first manufacturing facility of its kind in Australia to deploy a 100 percent renewable energy solution within two years,” said Sargeant.
“Decarbonising site-based process heat, coupled with Mars Australia’s 100 percent renewable electricity use, is a significant achievement that reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability and positions our Wodonga facility as a leader in green process heat manufacturing on a national scale.”
The $39.3 million Mars Wodonga Solar Thermal Plant will spearhead this transition, including the installation of an 18-megawatt Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) plant that will provide up to 10 hours of thermal energy storage for cooking pet food.
The project, which includes a $17.2 million grant from the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), has marked the first commercial deployment of parabolic trough CST technology in Australia.
“Investing in renewable energy technologies like CST is critical to decarbonising industrial processes, particularly in sectors that heavily rely on gas for steam-based manufacturing.”
He added that CST offered a powerful solution by capturing and storing solar energy in high-temperature heat at any time, making it ideal for steam-based manufacturing needs.
The project also built on Mars’ implementation of Electric Thermal Energy Storage (eTES) technology, which allowed the facility to utilise low-cost, grid-connected renewable electricity during off-peak times to generate and store heat that can produce steam at any time of day or night. This eTEs system, supported by CSIRO, provides a cost-effective, renewable alternative to gas.
In addition, Mars recently announced another joint initiative with the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) to purchase Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin certificates at Hydrogen Park Murray Valley. This arrangement will displace over 10 percent of Mars Australia’s total gas consumption, which includes Mars Petcare Wodonga.
With the addition of the AGIG hydrogen purchase and Mars Australia’s existing 100 percent renewable electricity agreement, the Wodonga facility will deploy a 100 percent renewable energy solution within two years as part of its global commitment by 2040.
“Earlier this year, Mars globally announced that since 2015, GHG emissions in the company’s value chain have been reduced by 16 percent or 5.7 million metric tons. This project further contributes to Mars Net Zero Roadmap's target to reduce emissions globally by 50 percent by the end of 2030, which we're on track to achieve.”
Mars is also working with other local companies and government entities as part of a broader effort to help create a renewable energy hub in northeast Victoria for future generations.
“We are part of the fabric of the local community, supporting jobs and investment in regional Victoria. Wodonga is at the heart of that journey, and today’s announcement is a major step forward in supporting regional investment and Australia’s clean energy future.”
