DENSO's Renewable Energy Push: Solar Array Powers Tennessee Facility
Japan-based automotive parts supplier DENSO will now be partially powered by a new solar array—with much more on the way—at the company’s manufacturing plant in Maryville, Tennessee.
The on-site, 12.8-acre energy infrastructure project has partnered DENSO with solar supplier Silicon Ranch, federal utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the city of Maryville. The new distributed energy array at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee (DMTN) totals more than 4,000 solar panels expected to generate about 3,400 MWh of carbon-free electricity annually.
"This activity shows how we don't only strive to be green through our products, but also through our operations and energy use," said Chuntao Ye, President of DMTN and Business Leader of the DENSO North America Peace of Mind Business Group, in a statement. "We appreciate the City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch and TVA for sharing this commitment with us and look forward to continuing to work together to advance renewable energy in East Tennessee. This only builds upon our 35-year history of working with local partners to give back to our neighbors in Maryville and surrounding communities."
Design and construction of the DENSO co-located solar farm took close to three years before completion was reached this summer, according to reports. It also is the first of three solar energy projects planned to come online in Blount County, with Nashville-based Silicon Ranch expecting to put the second in operation by December and the third by next year.
"Today's milestone demonstrates what is possible when a group of partners come together with a shared vision for how we can help our communities become stronger, healthier, and more resilient," said Matt Beasley, Chief Commercial Officer at Silicon Ranch. "Silicon Ranch takes great pride in our Tennessee roots, and our colleague who led our development work here is a Maryville native whose family has been here for seven generations. Our company looks forward to a productive partnership with all of our project partners and is proud to join DENSO as the newest corporate citizen of Blount County."
DENSO will source solar energy from a fourth Silicon Ranch facility elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley service territory through TVA's Green Invest program. The TVA program offers business and industry a solution to meet their sustainability goals.
When all facilities are completed, DENSO hopes to be sourcing and off-setting all of its Manufacturing Tennessee complex’s electrical needs from renewable energy sources. The effort also supports the city of Maryville's work with local partners to improve sustainability in the region.
DENSO employs more than 29,000 engineers, research and assembly workers across North America. The DMTN Tennessee facility produces starters, alternators, instrument clusters, electronics and inverters for hybrid vehicles.
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About the Author
EnergyTech Staff
Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 17 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.
Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.
He can be reached at [email protected].
EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.
Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.