The project is touted by EnergyRe to be one of the largest solar and storage facilities in the southeastern US when it starts commercial operations in 2024.

The Belgian chemical company said the deal will allow it to cut CO₂ emissions for roughly 17% of its US electricity purchases and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its operations in the country by 73,000 t/y. The five sites that will benefit from the agreement and reach zero emissions are Havre de Grace in Maryland, Piedmont and Rock Hill in South Carolina, Winona in Minnesota and Willow Island in West Virginia.

“This agreement advances towards 100% renewable electricity in the US,” said Pascal Chalvon, Solvay’s chief sustainability officer. “Our plan is to reduce our emissions by 30% by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality before 2040.”

The Lone Star Solar plant will have capacity of 66 megawatts (MW) of renewable power, as well as a 198 MW/hr battery energy storage system.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist