Nissan’s plan for renewable energy at factory

Nissan wants to add 20MW solar farm extension to its Sunderland, UK plant. Photos: NIssan

Nissan has announced plans for a major expansion to renewable energy generation at its record-breaking plant in Sunderland, UK.

Complementing the plant’s existing wind turbines and solar farm, the proposed 20MW solar farm extension represents a further step in Nissan’s path to carbon neutrality.

If approved, the 37,000-panel extension would result in 20 percent of the plant’s energy coming from all onsite renewables, enough to build every single zero-emission Nissan Leaf sold in Europe.

Alan Johnson, Vice President Manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland, said: “Renewables have already made a big difference to our business and we continue to look for ways to make the manufacturing process more sustainable.

“As our products made in Sunderland become increasingly electrified, our manufacturing operations are an important part of the ecosystem that will take us to carbon neutrality.”

Nissan began integrating renewable energy sources in Sunderland in 2005 when the company installed 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.

The solar farm extension would take the total output of renewables to 32MW at the plant.