SYDNEY, April 11 – Industrial gas supplier BOC, a key player in Australia’s energy-intensive manufacturing sector, has announced a major step toward reducing its carbon footprint by shifting nearly half of its electricity use in three states to solar power.
BOC, a subsidiary of global gas and engineering firm Linde, supplies critical gases to heavy industry, manufacturers, and hospitals across Australia. Under a new 10-year deal, the company will source power from the New England Solar Farm in New South Wales, covering 45% of its electricity needs in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
The agreement, signed with renewable energy retailer Zen Energy and power generator Acen Australia, is expected to reduce BOC’s national carbon emissions by 40% by 2035.
This move follows a broader trend among Australia’s industrial giants. Mining company Rio Tinto recently signed a similar long-term solar agreement, highlighting growing industry momentum toward clean energy. The transition comes as political debate continues, with the federal Coalition advocating for expanded fossil gas production.
Theo Martin, Managing Director of Linde South Pacific, called the agreement a “substantial initial step” that aligns with Linde’s global emission-reduction targets. He noted the deal was made at a highly competitive commercial rate. “We are absolutely on a mission to meet those emissions targets,” Martin said.
He added that switching to solar power would not only reduce BOC’s emissions, but also lower the carbon intensity of its industrial gases—benefiting customers who are increasingly focused on sustainability.
Zen Energy CEO Anthony Garnaut said long-term contracts, rising demand for green products, and investor pressure on corporate sustainability were driving this shift. “This is the transition to renewable energy in action and at scale,” Garnaut said.
Hugh Sheehan of the Climateworks Centre emphasized the broader significance of industrial action on energy use. “Large industrial companies account for about 44% of Australia’s energy consumption and 40% of electricity use annually,” he said. “Their power choices have a much greater impact than those of homes or small businesses.”
Sheehan said firms like BOC and Rio Tinto were preparing for a low-carbon future, not just for environmental reasons but to stay competitive in a changing global economy.
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