Porsche Cars North America signed a contract with solar energy provider Cherry Street Energy to install and operate a solar power microgrid at One Porsche Drive, its campus that combines its corporate headquarters and its Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta.
The new microgrid will contribute to its sustainability goals, along with other measures, like the use of special concrete to reduce carbon content, water re-use and recycling, the use of native non-irrigated landscape solutions, green walls and walking trails to boost biodiversity and the installation of EV charging infrastructure.
The new solar project will be undertaken as part of its $50 million development, which includes building a driver development track, which will be operational in 2023. It will include a Porsche Classic Factory Restoration facility, a Porsche Service Center, which is already open, and a parking deck, all on 33 acres of land adjacent to its headquarters and Porsche Experience Center.
The expanded campus is designed with an aim to achieve LEED Gold certification for its buildings’ energy efficiency.
“Powering our North American home and our Taycan fleet through harnessing Georgia sunshine makes perfect sense, and is a great demonstration of our commitment to sustainability,” said Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of PCNA. “This solar project contributes to the overall sustainability targets of Porsche AG. In 2030, Porsche aims to be CO₂ net neutral across the entire value chain and life cycle of newly sold vehicles.”
The array of solar panels will be installed on new and existing buildings, staging area roofs, and a 950ft covered walkway from the parking garage to the headquarters building. The installation will begin in September 2022 and is expected to complete in 2023.
Once complete, the 25-year operating agreement will kick off, wherein Cherry Street Energy will own, operate and maintain the microgrid and sell the power to PCNA, offering stabilized energy rates and significant, measurable reductions in CO2 emissions for the company.
“The Cherry Street Energy team welcomes the opportunity to partner with Porsche on this innovative infrastructure program, leading the transition to reliable, renewable electricity,” said Michael Chanin, founder and CEO of Cherry Street Energy.
Cherry Street Energy expects the solar array to generate 2,050 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually and represent a CO₂ reduction of 3.2 million pounds per year.
