Royal Caribbean Cruises announced it had signed an agreement with the leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, Southern Power, for provider’s 200MW Reading Wind Facility.
The initiative, which will offset up to 12% of the emissions of Royal Caribbean beginning 2020, is the latest addition to the extensive sustainability efforts of the company, which include programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions via innovations both in port and at sea.
The project, which is Southern Power’s 11th wind facility, is situated in Osage and Lyon Counties in Kansas, and is the first of Southern Power to be validated as carbon offset project under Verified Carbon Standard. This agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises provides Southern Power with an economic basis to construct the new project. The cruise company was advised on the execution of the agreement by Schneider Electric Energy and Sustainability Services.
The new facility is due to generate roughly 760,000MW hours annually over the duration of 12-year agreement, which translates to clean energy that is enough to offset 10-12% of Royal Caribbean Cruises' annual carbon emissions starting 2020. With the innovative program, the cruise line is able to apply new approach while continuing the primary initiatives to advance sustainability efforts across its fleet.
Originally, the 200MW project was developed by RES who are expected to lead the construction alongside Southern Power. Reading Wind is due to consist of 62 wind turbines that are manufactured by Siemens Gamesa. The new project is expected to break ground during the 2nd quarter of 2019 and to be complete by the 2nd quarter of 2020. Upon completion, Southern Power will operate and maintain the new facility.