EDP has signed a long-term, 12-year contract with McDonald’s in Brazil. The partnership was established between EDP and 38 McDonald’s franchisees in the South and Southeast regions of the country and includes the supply of renewable energy with an estimated annual production of over 61 GWh. This energy will power 156 McDonald’s units, including restaurants, cafés, and kiosks, across six Brazilian states.
Energy will be generated at the Solar Novo Oriente plant, the largest photovoltaic complex in the State of São Paulo. With an installed capacity of 319 MWp, the solar park features 82 inverters and more than 558,000 modules, equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately 375,000 households.
“Being chosen once again by McDonald’s on its journey toward a greener future is, without a doubt, a reflection of the trust our clients place in the solutions EDP offers as a global energy partner. This choice, in both Portugal and Brazil, two key markets for EDP, reinforces our role in accelerating the energy transition. We want to continue supporting companies across different sectors in adopting clean energy, helping them advance their efficiency and decarbonization strategies,” said Vera Pinto Pereira, Executive Board Member of EDP.
In addition to energy production, the contract includes the annual issuance of over 61,000 renewable energy certificates (I-RECs), which guarantee the clean origin of the electricity and help avoid the emission of around 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.
In 2022, EDP built three photovoltaic plants with the capacity to produce more than 11,000 MWh per year, dedicated to supplying clean energy to McDonald’s restaurants in Brazil. These plants, with a total installed capacity of 6.6 MWp, are located in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, and exclusively supply 28 restaurants and seven kiosks operated by Arcos Dorados, the company responsible for the brand in Latin America.
Also in Portugal, McDonald’s chose EDP as a partner in its sustainability strategy. EDP Commercial was selected to develop decentralized solar projects for rooftops and parking lots of McDonald’s locations, and to supply electric mobility chargers, with the installation of more than 150 fast-charging points at restaurants across the country, including the islands. This collaboration strengthens a long-standing relationship that began with energy efficiency solutions for the restaurant chain.