DHL Group has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with ENBW Energie Baden-Württemberg (EnBW) for the purchase of around 80 gigawatt-hours per year of electricity from renewable sources from 2026 – enough to power 16% of DHL’s current annual electricity demand in Germany.
The electricity will be produced in the He Dreiht offshore wind farm in the German North Sea, which is scheduled to go into operation in stages until spring 2026.
“Smart energy management is key to achieving our [decarbonization] goals,” said Anna Spinelli, chief procurement officer at DHL Group. “The deal with EnBW is another important step on our path to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in logistics by 2050.
“The long-term agreement with our energy partner ensures a reliable supply of electricity from renewable sources for our operations and contributes to supporting the energy transition. This is an example of how fostering proactive supplier relationships can contribute to a more sustainable and positive ecosystem.”
As part of its Strategy 2030, DHL Group aims to become the ‘green logistics provider of choice’, as sustainability is increasingly becoming a key differentiator in logistics. According to the company, the use of renewable energy is one of the key measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This also includes the use of sustainable fuels, the expansion of the electric fleet, the development of climate-neutral buildings and the establishment of a green product portfolio. By 2050, DHL Group wants to reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero.
Matthias Obert, executive director – trading at EnBW, commented, “We are delighted to support DHL Group on its journey toward zero-emission logistics. This partnership underscores our position as a major provider of sustainable energy across Europe. PPAs are a targeted and highly flexible instrument for advancing the decarbonization of industrials. They support the companies we partner with in meeting their sustainability goals while underpinning the financing of our projects: a win-win situation for industry and the climate.”
The He Dreiht wind farm is one of the first offshore wind farms to be built without government subsidies and is one of the biggest offshore wind farms in Europe. With a total installed output of 960MW, He Dreiht will be able to supply the equivalent of 1,100,000 households with renewable energy.
In related news, DHL Express has opened a new multi-service site at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport that will handle time definite international (TDI) and day definite international (DDI) shipments and is the first facility of its kind in France. Read the full story