NovaWind to Supply Green Power to EkoNiva Group

Russia’s largest milk producer EkoNiva Group is switching to renewable energy at its production sites. Its dairy farm in Dobrino, Voronezh Region will be the group’s first site to be fully powered by green energy. The project is carried out in partnership with NovaWind.

NovaWind operates wind farms in the Stavropol Krai, Rostov Region, and Republic of Adygea. The fact that power comes from renewable sources will be confirmed by a non-regulated bilateral contract, which is required to be concluded in accordance with the wholesale electricity market rules.

EkoNiva will become one of the country’s first raw milk producers to have a production site that buys exclusively wind power and whose energy needs are entirely covered by renewables. This will greatly reduce its indirect greenhouse gas emissions. The supply of green power is starting in September 2022.

The transition to renewable energy at Dobrino will enable a reduction in indirect greenhouse gas emissions by around 1,000 tons of CO2 per annum. 

Following the pilot project in the Voronezh Region, EkoNiva Group will consider the possibility and feasibility of renewable energy transition at other sites. All of its capital expenditures will also be planned to incorporate green energy options.

“Low-carbon wind energy helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint and achieve sustainable development goals. We are ready to provide all-around support to our partners in mitigating industrial impact on the environment. Transition to renewable energy is a pivotal step in the development of any business. Hopefully, this pilot project will be a starting point of long-term cooperation between our companies,” NovaWind CEO Grigoriy Nazarov pointed out.

“EkoNiva Group has made renewable and sustainable energy part of its ESG agenda. One of our primary goals is to minimize environmental impact of EkoNiva’s operations by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. We are happy to make our business more responsible with our partners from NovaWind,” said Lyubov Aksyonova, Head of GR and ESG at EkoNiva Group.