Sberbank : starts using energy produced by solar panels on rooftops of its branches

Sberbank is now using the solar energy produced by the panels installed on the rooftops of its branches. The first branches whose power needs are partially covered by the solar panels are two sales and service offices in Astrakhan Region, one in the city of Narimanov and the other one in Astrakhan.

The solar equipment consists of a solar module and an inverter. Both the offices have a total of 48 solar panels with the area of 96 square meters. During the day, all the energy they generate goes to the local network of bank buildings, thereby reducing power consumption from the external power grid. The autonomous equipment makes it possible to generate a total of 2300 kWh a month and thereby cover more than 20% of the electricity needs of the two offices.

Sberbank has taken on a commitment unprecedented in Russia, which is to make the company's operations carbon neutral by 2030. This will be achieved in part due to our offices adopting renewable energy sources. Several of our offices are already fully powered by green energy purchased from the market. We are conducting an essentially new experiment in Astrakhan Region where our electricity needs are partially covered by our own power generation. If this pilot project flies, we will replicate it across other branches, not only in Astrakhan Region, but also in other parts of Russia that enjoy many sunny days throughout the year.

Alexander Vedyakhin

First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank

The UN found that countries and corporations made commitments equivalent to 826 GW of new non-hydro renewable power capacity, at a likely cost of around USD 1 tn, by 2030. The International Energy Agency forecasts that almost 90% of global electricity generation in 2050 will come from renewable sources, with solar PV and wind together accounting for nearly 70%.

Sber has recently joined the Russia Renewable Energy Development Association (RREDA). Sber has provided over RUB 74 bn in RES funding. Thanks to funding from Sberbank, solar parks with a total capacity of over 300 MW have been commissioned in Stavropol Krai, the Republic of Bashkortostan, Volgograd Region, and Samara Region, as well as wind farms in Rostov Region with a capacity of 150 MW. The 200 MW Kolskaya wind farm in Murmansk Region, set to be the largest renewable energy project north of the Arctic Circle, is under construction.