MEXICO CITY — Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V. has begun construction on “Piedra Larga,” which is expected to be the largest wind farm in the food industry, generating nearly 100% of the electrical power at Grupo Bimbo in Mexico. The wind farm will be located in Union Hidalgo, State of Oaxaca.
According to Grupo Bimbo, the wind farm will have installed capacity of 90 mega watts, and will be able to supply power to 65 of the company’s facilities. Grupo Bimbo also has invited Grupo Calidra, Frialsa Frigorificos and Papalote Museo del Nino to participate in the project.
“The construction of this wind farm is a milestone in our effort to continue growing with the force of nature, making us the first company in the food industry to embrace the transformation to renewable energy,” said Daniel Servitje, chief executive officer of Grupo Bimbo. “It represents an unprecedented effort in the use of renewable, clean and virtually endless energy: green energy.”
Mr. Servitje continued, “Grupo Bimbo continuously seeks to reduce its environmental footprint, and as such it operates under the highest performance standards. This is an effort we have undertaken for 10 years and is gaining greater importance within our five axes of environmental sustainability: energy conservation, water conservation, emissions reduction, waste management and corporate social responsibility.”
The operation of the wind farm will be made possible through a partnership between Grupo Bimbo and DEMEX (Desarrollos Eolicos Mexicanos, or Mexican Wind Farm Developments), the latter of which will invest approximately $200 million in the project.