Nissan to expand renewable energy at Sunderland Plant
Japanese automaker Nissan has recently bared plans for a major expansion to renewable energy generation at its record-breaking plant in Sunderland, UK. The proposed 20MW solar farm extension will be complementing the plant’s already existing solar farm and wind turbines. If approved, the 37,000-panel extension would result in 20% of the plant’s energy coming from all onsite renewables, enough to build every single zero-emission Nissan LEAF sold in Europe. The solar farm is being developed and installed by partner solar energy firm, England-headquartered Engenera.
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Nissan has started integrating renewable energy sources in Sunderland in 2005, installing its first wind turbines on site. These 10 turbines contribute 6.6MW power, with the existing 4.75MW solar farm installed in 2016. The proposed 20MW solar farm extension would take the total output of renewables to 32MW at the plant.
Nissan aims to achieve carbon neutrality across the company’s operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050. As part of this effort, it said that by early 2030 every all-new Nissan vehicle offering in key markets will be electrified, as well as introducing innovations in electrification and manufacturing technology.
