Denmark-based dairy products manufacturer Arla Foods has opened a new solar power plant at its repackaging facility in Tychowo, Poland.
Featuring 2,596 solar panels, the solar plant is expected to generate 1.62 GWh of energy per year. According to the company, the plant will address frequent power cuts and dropouts that have caused difficulties for its 98 employees at the repackaging site.
It will also ensure business continuity and create a renewable energy source in an energy grid that mainly relies on coal, Arla adds.
The new solar plant is expected to deliver about 85 percent of the energy required by Arla Foods’ repackaging site and store an additional 2.6 MWh in a battery for use during the night.
Additionally, the plant is anticipated to cut Arla’s carbon emissions by 1,645 tons annually and reduce the run rate cost by more than 75 percent per year, resulting in the €2.99 million (about $3.18 million U.S., at current exchange rates) investment paying itself back within about seven years.
“This is a sensible investment on all levels,” said David Boulanger, Executive Vice President and Head of Supply Chain at Arla Foods. “Not only does it make securing business continuity easier for our employees, it also reduces run rate costs at the site and creates a more sustainable energy source showing the way for future energy investments in the region.”
Arla Foods aims to use 100-percent renewable electricity in Europe by the end of 2025 and achieve a 63 percent reduction in emissions compared to 2015 by 2030.
