Mars backs Lithuanian wind project in latest Europe energy deal

Mars said on April 28, 2026, that it has signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement with European Energy for most of the output from the planned 158.4-megawatt Skuodas Wind Farm in Lithuania. The company said the project is expected to generate about 490 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually, avoid roughly 120,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, and begin operating in 2028. Mars also said the deal will help support its pet food manufacturing facility in Lithuania and is part of its broader Renewables Acceleration Program, which is aimed at extending renewable electricity across its operations and value chain. (mars.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is another sign that sustainability is becoming a more visible part of large pet care and veterinary-adjacent companies’ operating strategies, not just their public messaging. Mars’ pet care portfolio includes major veterinary and diagnostics businesses, and the company has tied renewable electricity procurement to its wider net-zero roadmap. That won’t change clinical care overnight, but it does signal continued pressure on suppliers, manufacturers, and healthcare networks to show measurable progress on energy use, emissions, and infrastructure resilience. In Europe, the agreement also lands as corporate PPAs remain an important tool for bringing new renewable projects online, even as the market has become more complex and risk-sensitive. (mars.com)

What to watch: Watch for permitting, construction, and grid milestones ahead of the Skuodas project’s planned 2028 start, and for whether Mars announces additional pet care- or veterinary-linked renewable energy deals in Europe. (mars.com)