JBS, one of the largest food companies in the world, has announced it will supply Swift stores with electricity produced by biogas generators, in partnership with Âmbar Energia, J&F Investimentos' energy solutions company.
Ten Swift stores in the state of São Paulo will be supplied with biogas, adding to over 150 establishments that already utilise solar energy.
The energy will be produced through biodigesters that capture and process methane in the company's production units.
The move sees JBS taking advantage of the biogas produced at Friboi units, a JBS brand in the beef segment in Brazil. The company invested R$80 million (€14.6 million) in the installation of biodigesters in nine units in the states of São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Rondônia. These are producing about 65.1 cubic metres of energy per day.
"The first phase of the initiative includes Friboi's nine largest units and will reduce the scope 24 emissions of the business by 6%, which represents a 1.4% decrease in scope 5 emissions from all JBS activities in Brazil," said Gilberto Xandó, president of JBS Brazil. "In addition to supplying Swift's stores, we can use biogas to generate steam in the boilers of the units, as fuel for the JBS carrier's fleet to replace diesel or even to produce green hydrogen," he added.
Swift will use the biogas produced at Friboi's unit in Andradina, in the interior of São Paulo.
Generators installed by Amber at the plant are set to consume around 600,2023 cubic metres of biogas per day, enough volume to supply 101 homes.
The generators are expected to go into commercial operation on 3 December this year.
The energy produced will be made available to Swift stores in Atibaia, Votuporanga, Leme, Vila Caiçara, Arujá, Limeira, Itanhaém, Peruíbe, Ubatuba and Mongaguá.
JBS announces biogas will power 10 Swift stores in Brazil
