Ineos Inovyn opens solar farm for vinyl plant in Belgium

European vinyl producer Ineos Inovyn and its partners PerPetum Energy & Green4Power have launched a new photovoltaic solar farm, with an installed capacity of 60MW renewable power exclusively to the Jemeppe production site and reduces CO2 emissions by 14,000 tonnes/year. Featuring over 90,000 solar panels it is the equivalent size of 56 football pitches.

The solar farm inauguration was attended by over 100 guests including Sophie Wilmès, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Cécile Neven, Walloon Minister for Energy and the Air-Climate Plan.

Cécile Neven, commented, “As Minister for Energy and the Air-Climate Plan, I can only support this strategic investment as part of the energy transition. I’m delighted to be taking part in the launch of this ambitious project to build the largest photovoltaic park in Wallonia. This project is much more than an investment in sustainable infrastructure. It embodies the determination of Ineos Inovyn, a key player in the chemical industry, to do everything possible to achieve our climate objectives.”

“It also demonstrates the success of cooperation between the private sector and public authorities to achieve common goals in sustainable development. By mobilising everyone, we can achieve ambitious goals together.”

The new solar farm includes a range of innovative features, from the use of latest-generation Heterojunction panels that provide higher levels of efficiency, to an underground power line connection with Jemeppe’s plant and central invertors, which are more reliable, economical and durable.

Philippe Taranti, Ineos Inovyn Director at the Jemeppe site said, “I am very proud of reaching this milestone, which forms part of our strategic decarbonisation roadmap to reduce CO2 emission across all sites by more than 33% by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050. The new solar farm also enables us to provide customers with low carbon products that will support Europe’s green transition.”

With these steps Ineos Inovyn says it continues providing industry leadership, putting in place long-term structural solutions to drive a sustainable step change in the carbon footprint abatement of the PVC value chain – to meet the 2030 green-house gas reduction targets.

European plastics face a competitiveness gap with the US and China, driven by higher energy costs, less access to raw material and a challenging regulatory landscape. Measures are needed to safeguard the competitiveness of our industry and avoid Europe becoming dependent on imports from abroad. Support schemes that stimulate investments in clean, abundant and competitive energy are critical to a sustainable future for European industry.