Mars Wodonga set to become Australia’s first large-scale steam-based pet food plant 

AUSTRALIA—Mars, Incorporated has announced that its Wodonga pet food manufacturing facility, which produces household brands Pedigree and Whiskas, will soon be powered by 100% renewable energy. 

This will mark a significant step in Mars’s journey toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050. 

In a groundbreaking effort, Mars Wodonga will be Australia’s first large-scale, steam-based manufacturing site to adopt an entirely renewable energy model for both electricity and process steam by 2026.

Central to this initiative is the AUD$39.3 million (US$25.78 million) Mars Wodonga Solar Thermal Plant, an 18-megawatt Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) system capable of storing up to 10 hours of thermal energy for pet food production. 

This advanced technology allows the facility to harness solar energy during the day and store it as heat for use whenever needed. 

This installation, supported by an AUD$17.2 million (US$11.28 million) grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is the first commercial deployment of CST technology in Australia.

“We are incredibly proud to announce that Mars will be the first manufacturing facility of its kind in Australia to deploy a 100% renewable energy solution within two years,” said Craig Sargeant, general manager of Mars Petcare Australia and New Zealand. 

“Decarbonizing site-based process heat, coupled with Mars Australia’s 100% renewable electricity use, is a significant achievement that reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability and positions our Wodonga facility as a leader in green process heat manufacturing on a national scale.”

In addition to CST, Mars Wodonga has implemented Electric Thermal Energy Storage (eTES) technology. Developed with support from CSIRO, the eTES system allows the facility to store renewable electricity during off-peak hours and convert it to steam on demand. 

This innovative setup offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional gas use in manufacturing.

“Investing in renewable energy technologies like CST is critical to decarbonising industrial processes, particularly in sectors that heavily rely on gas for steam-based manufacturing,” Sargeant explained. 

“CST offers a powerful solution by capturing and storing solar energy in high-temperature heat, making it an ideal fit for our steam-based manufacturing needs.”

Mars’ sustainability efforts extend beyond CST and eTES technology. 

The company recently partnered with the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) to purchase Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin certificates through Hydrogen Park Murray Valley.

This move will displace over 10% of Mars Australia’s total gas consumption, reducing its carbon footprint.

The company’s ambitious sustainability goals reflect Mars’ global commitment to renewable energy. 

“Earlier this year, Mars globally announced that since 2015, GHG emissions in the company’s value chain have been reduced by 16%, or 5.7 million metric tons,” Sargeant noted. “This project further contributes to Mars’ Net Zero Roadmap target to reduce emissions globally by 50% by the end of 2030, which we’re on track to achieve.”

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