DSM expands US solar facility to boost green energy ambitions

USA – The health and nutrition Dutch multinational, DSM has opened a newly expanded solar field in Belvidere, New Jersey further reinforcing its ambitious goals to adopt the use of renewable energy in its operations.

The facility which features a 20.2 MW solar project, sits on 66-acre land, making it largest net-metered solar installation in New Jersey and the second largest on the East Coast.

DSM has added 42,000 solar panels in the second phase of the project, compared to more than 62,000 solar panels originally installed at the site, producing 25,000,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually.

The expansion which included 46 acres triples the solar output at the site.

The company said that at peak production, the maximum output of the solar facility will exceed the site’s peak consumption, with the excess solar power being sent to the power grid during those times.

“The newly expanded solar field is part of DSM’s commitment to doing well by doing good for both our communities and our environment,” said Hugh Welsh, President and General Counsel of DSM North America.

“It will minimize our impact on the planet through clean, renewable energy and allow for sending enough green energy back to the grid to power 406 homes for a year.

At DSM we are proud to do our part to move the state of New Jersey and our country toward a clean energy future.”

The Belvidere expansion was engineered and constructed by GeoPeak Energy, lowering DSM’s carbon footprint by increasing the offset of CO₂ emissions of electricity from the grid to more than 17,400 metric tons annually.

Sustainability commitments

According to DSM, the solar field will reduce 38,360,434 lbs of CO₂ annually, equivalent of the CO₂ emissions from 1,962,666 gallons of gasoline consumed, 2,614 homes’ annual electricity use, and the carbon sequestered by 20,544 acres of US forests.

It utilizes anti-reflective coating for the solar glass technology that is also used in solar fields in Kingstree, South Carolina and Pune, India to increase efficiency.

DSM reported that electricity purchases from renewable sources increased 8% in 2016 to 21% in 2017 when it achieved 26% greenhouse-gas efficiency.

Its sustainability ambitions include sourcing 50% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2025.

As a member of RE100 initiative, the company looks to sourcing 100% renewable purchased energy across its operations around the globe.

“DSM is a prime example of an RE100 member investing in pragmatic and impactful projects by cutting emissions from its operations and greening the grid to the benefit of local communities,” said Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100, The Climate Group.

“By expanding its Belvidere solar field to triple the size, DSM sends a powerful message that the business case for renewable power continues to grow, showing the wider business community that the clean energy transition is happening now, and won’t slow down.”