ENERGY
DuPont | September 23, 2021
DuPont today announced that it has signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC with a generation capacity of the equivalent of 135 megawatts of new wind energy in Texas. The agreement, subject to customary performance conditions, supports DuPont's Acting on Climate goal of reducing absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 percent, including sourcing 60 percent of electricity from renewable energy, by 2030, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Through this VPPA, together with our 2020 actions, we will soon be sourcing the equivalent of approximately 25 percent of our total electricity needs today from renewable sources. Renewable energy is one part of an integrated climate and energy approach that will help us deliver our purpose of empowering the world with the essential innovations to thrive and move towards a more sustainable operation. We're committed to managing our business to preserve the earth's natural resources.
Miguel Gonzalez, Chief Procurement Officer at DuPont
The VPPA will deliver the equivalent of 135 megawatts of new wind power capacity or approximately 528,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity annually. This amount of clean energy is equivalent to avoiding the carbon emissions from more than 81,000 passenger cars driven each year, or the annual electricity consumption of nearly 70,000 homes.
A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources is developing the project and will build, own, and operate it. The new wind project – Appaloosa Run Wind – will be built in Upton County, Texas and is expected to be operational by the end of 2022. Schneider Electric, the leading advisor on corporate renewable energy procurement globally, supported DuPont in the selection of and negotiations for the project.
DuPont's plan to procure more renewable energy is helping to accelerate the transition to renewable sources in the U.S., and aligns with the company's Acting on Climate sustainability goals. The company is reducing energy use through enterprise-level deployment of energy efficiency projects; sourcing low-carbon power, heating, and cooling; creating low-carbon industrial processes; and embedding climate risk into strategic and financial decisions, while advocating for progressive climate policy.
DuPont has already made significant progress towards its goals, converting utility supply at its largest manufacturing site to a low carbon source in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company completed nearly 100 energy savings projects in 2020 and reduced its location-based 2020 Scope 2 emissions – indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling – by 11 percent compared to 2019. Additional projects include the phased launch of reduced global warming potential (GWP) Styrofoam insulation options, which will deliver significant avoidance of GHG emissions via a lower embodied carbon product offering.
DuPont has long been recognized as a leader in sustainability, and it is a tremendous honor for Schneider Electric to advise them on their bold climate action goals. The need to proactively manage a company's energy portfolio has never been more critical. I applaud DuPont's ambitions and we look forward to supporting the company's long-term renewable energy procurement and decarbonization strategy.
Steve Wilhite, Senior Vice President of Schneider Electric
A VPPA is a long-term contract for power between a buyer and a power project developer. VPPAs have become a common, effective means for corporations to purchase wind and solar power at scale. To learn more about VPPAs, read this short e-book from Schneider Electric.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety.
Read More
MARKET RESEARCH
Growatt | June 02, 2022
Growatt recently announced the launch of its new website, www.growattportable.com, which went live on June 1st, 2020. Through this new website will they promote their new portable power station portfolio. It was unveiled at the beginning of April this year.
Lisa Zhang, global marketing director at Growatt, shared, "Growatt is committed to encouraging a smart energy life with sustainable green power. In the past, our solution was limited to providing energy on site, but we have developed a new portable power station line in the hope that green energy can be brought outdoors to offer all-scenario green energy solutions.The recently released Growatt Infinity 1500 has a 1554Wh capacity and a 2000W output and can cover 95% of outdoor and indoor appliances. It supports high-speed solar and AC wall charging and can be charged to 80% in just one hour, making it the perfect companion for outdoor activities and a reliable friend for home backup.”
This new portable power station is a perfect fit for outdoor enthusiasts and users who require installation-free power backup solutions. It is quite different from its traditional offerings, in terms of user portraits and shopping habits. They aim to provide a more intuitive, user-friendly, and interactive communication platform that will bridge the gap between the end users.
Zhang further added, "By launching a new site, we can interact directly with our users and better communicate with the market. We believe this will facilitate us to continuously optimize our products and services. The launch of the new website echoes our promise to always set user experience as a top priority.”
The new website comes with a fresh visual that aligns with the expansion strategy of the company. In the future, Growatt plans to launch more products that will complete the entire portable power ecosystem. This will provide users the freedom with to use clean energy anytime, anywhere.
Read More
SOLAR+STORAGE
Hydro Rein | May 04, 2022
Hydro Rein, Atlas Renewable Energy and ALBRAS are in the process of forming a joint venture to design, build and operate a self-generation project through a solar power plant, which will be located in Paracatú , in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which will have a planned total installed capacity of 438 MW. The project will provide long-term renewable energy to the primary aluminum plant in Albras.
Hydro Rein and Atlas Renewable Energy are in the process of forming a joint venture to design and build the Boa Sorte solar power plant, which will be located in Paracatú, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and has a planned total installed capacity of 438MW. The project will provide long-term renewable energy to the primary aluminum plant in Albras.
Construction of the Boa Sorte solar power plant is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2022, and operation is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2023. Total investments are estimated at US$320 million (100% basis). The project has been submitted to the competition authority (CADE) for approval.
As part of the realization of the self-generation project, Albras signed a PPA (power purchase agreement) denominated in US dollars with Boa Sorte for an annual supply of 815 GWh from 2025 to 2044. This agreement covers 12% of Albras' annual electricity consumption.
The Albras primary aluminum plant is located in the Brazilian state of Pará and is a joint venture formed between Hydro and NAAC (Nippon Amazon Aluminum Co. Ltd.). Albras is the largest producer of primary aluminum in Brazil, with an annual capacity of 460,000 tons, and it supplies national and international markets.
The Boa Sorte solar power plant will include more than 800,000 bifacial modules, which will provide enough energy to avoid the emission of 61,500 tonnes of CO2 per year.
About Atlas Renewable Energy
Atlas Renewable Energy is a renewable energy generation company that has been developing, financing, building and operating renewable energy projects across America since early 2017. Atlas Renewable Energy includes an experienced team with the longest experience in the industry of solar energy in Latin America. The company is recognized for its high standards in the development, construction and operation of large-scale projects. Atlas Renewable Energy is part of Energy Fund IV, raised by Actis, one of the leading private investors in the energy sector. Atlas Renewable Energy's growth is focused on the region's most stable markets, using its proven development, marketing and structuring expertise to accelerate the clean energy transformation. By actively engaging with the community and stakeholders at the heart of its strategy, the company works every day to deliver a cleaner future.
About Hydro Rein
Hydro Rein was established in 2021 as part of Hydro's growth strategy in renewable energy. The company aims to become the preferred supplier of renewable energy and other energy solutions for industrial customers. Hydro Rein has a large portfolio of wind and solar projects in Brazil and the Nordic countries for the long-term supply of energy to Hydro and other industrial users. Hydro Rein also develops a range of energy solutions to help industries manage and optimize their energy consumption and off-grid storage.
Read More