THE MAKER of Mars bars and Snickers has announced a partnership with energy provider Eneco UK to power its 12 UK factories with electricity generated from the new, 20-turbine Moy Wind Farm, located just south of Inverness.

The 60 megawatt Eneco UK site will generate the equivalent of 100 per cent of the electricity required to power all 12 Mars UK sites with the snacks maker committing to buying electricity through Eneco UK for the next decade. Remaining power will be made available to the local community through Highlands Wind tariff, a co-initiative between Eneco and The Co-operative Energy.

Mars said the deal marked the next important step in Mars’ journey to become ‘sustainable in a generation’ and achieve carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040.

The company met its global 2015 goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from operations by 25 per cent from a 2007 baseline.

The deal follows the April 2014 launch of a large-scale wind farm in Mesquite Creek, Texas, which now generates the equivalent of 100% of the electricity required to power the company’s entire US operations.

Barry Parkin, chief sustainability and health & wellbeing officer, Mars Incorporated, said: “We recognise all businesses have a responsibility to tackle climate change and we hope our partnership with Eneco at Moy will encourage other companies to take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint through renewable energy.”

Zoisa Walton, country director, Eneco UK, added: “This project is very special to Eneco as it brings together all the elements of our strategy – a renewable generating asset, a like-minded partner in Mars, and the opportunity to deliver real benefits to the local community.”