How Mars Pushes Net Zero with its Lithuania Wind Energy Deal

Mars Incorporated is advancing its energy strategy through a long-term power purchase agreement with European Energy, securing most of the output from the Skuodas Wind Farm in Lithuania.

Owned by European Energy, the Skuodas Wind Farm forms part of a broader push to decarbonise and electrify regional energy systems.

According to Alerion, a standard 2 MW wind turbine can avoid the emissions of 1,450 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

This figure spotlights the impact that projects like Skuodas can deliver.

Scaling renewable energy through PPAs

The agreement marks another step in Mars’ Renewables Acceleration Programme, which aims to expand access to clean electricity across its full value chain.

The contract includes bundled guarantees of origin, which ensure that the electricity supplied is verifiably renewable and tied to new-build generation capacity.

With an installed capacity of 158.4 MW, the wind farm is expected to generate approximately 490 GWh of renewable electricity each year, which is enough to power around 250,000 homes.

For Mars, this output will help cover both its direct consumption and broader value chain demand with certified renewable power.

“This agreement shows how companies like Mars are actively enabling new renewable generation,” says Jens-Peter Zink, Deputy CEO of European Energy.

“Through this collaboration, we are bringing the Skuodas wind farm forward and adding substantial new, domestically produced capacity to Lithuania’s energy mix.

“It shows how corporate PPAs translate commitments into real infrastructure and strengthen national energy independence in Lithuania.”

Supporting industrial energy demand

The Skuodas project is expected to become operational in 2028 and will play a role in supporting Mars’ pet food manufacturing facility in Lithuania.

Securing long-term renewable electricity supply is central to maintaining stable energy costs while reducing emissions linked to production.

The wind farm will also reinforce the site’s position within Mars’ European operations, supporting export activity while aligning with wider decarbonisation goals.

Through linking industrial demand directly with renewable generation, the agreement demonstrates how energy procurement strategies are evolving beyond traditional supply contracts.

“At Mars, we’re focused on turning climate commitments into measurable progress and action with real-world infrastructure,” says Kevin Rabinovitch, Global VP Sustainability at Mars.

“This agreement with European Energy helps bring new wind power online in Lithuania and strengthens our ability to extend credible renewable electricity across our value chain.

“It marks another step under our Renewables Acceleration Program – helping scale clean electricity and keep us moving toward our net zero ambitions.”

Building momentum across Europe

Mars has been steadily expanding its renewable energy portfolio through similar agreements.

In 2025, the company signed its first set of deals, including a European contract that supported the launch of more than 100 solar projects in Poland and three in the US.

This momentum continued into 2026, when Mars secured 70% of the output from the Kölvallen Wind Farm in Sweden through another long-term agreement. 

A system-wide approach to clean energy

At the core of Mars’ energy strategy is a shift from incremental supplier engagement to large-scale market participation. Rather than relying solely on individual suppliers to adopt renewable energy, the company is utilising its purchasing power to accelerate deployment at scale.

Through its Renewables Acceleration Programme, Mars aims to bring 8–9 terawatt-hours of electricity demand into the renewable energy market.

That demand spans its entire value chain, from agricultural production and manufacturing to logistics and product use.

This significantly expands Mars’ role in the energy market, effectively increasing its renewable electricity footprint from around 2 TWh to several times that level.

Its strategy is aligned with the United Nations goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.

In total, the company estimates that it could help cut around 3 million tonnes of carbon emissions, reflecting the growing influence of corporate energy procurement in driving the transition to cleaner power.