Schneider Electric Helps Sun Chemical Use Solar to Drive Energy Savings
-Switch to renewable energy will cut electricity costs at New Jersey production facility by $400,000
-Solar project adds to 12-year energy management partnership that has produced more than $12 million in savings
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, today announced the signing of a solar power purchase agreement (PPA) that will allow Sun Chemical to cut electricity costs at its Carlstadt, N.J., production facility by roughly $400,000.
Rooftop and carport photovoltaic (PV) arrays at the site will generate more than 30 percent of the energy needed to power the facility. Under the 20-year PPA, which Schneider Electric helped structure and broker, solar developer Onyx Renewables will design, install, own and operate the arrays, selling the electricity the technology produces to Sun Chemical at a cost below current utility rates.
"At Sun Chemical, we've challenged ourselves to look for ways we can improve our processes at individual sites by monitoring key metrics to understand and manage our environmental impact," said Gary Andrzejewski, Corporate Vice President of Environmental Affairs at Sun Chemical, the world's leading producer of inks, pigments and pressroom materials.
"Our decision to build PV arrays at our Carlstadt facility is the latest example of how our own facility managers have been challenging themselves with regard to eco-efficiency," Andrzejewski said. "We're excited about working with Schneider Electric on this project and we're pleased with how they have helped us develop a progressive approach to energy management — one that makes us a more sustainable and profitable business."
Sun Chemical's sustainability policy requires a data-driven approach to identify targets for efficiency and environmental improvements. Using this model, Sun Chemical turned to Schneider Electric for options to trim consumption costs at its Carlstadt facility. Schneider Electric then completed a comprehensive bid analysis for an onsite PPA, helped negotiate the contract and assisted in securing credit support.
The end result is a solar installation that will produce around 1.1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough energy to power more than 90 homes.
"While utility bills continue to be one of the largest line items on any facility's balance sheet, it's critical that organizations consider every possible avenue to reduce energy consumption and offset demand," said Steve Wilhite, Senior Vice President of Energy and Sustainability Services at Schneider Electric. "By looking at all aspects of energy — from how it's purchased and used, to where it's generated — we help clients identify new opportunities to optimize resources and continue driving innovation at every level of the organization."
The project marks an expansion of a long-term collaboration dating back to 2004, in which Schneider Electric provides sustainability consulting and energy procurement services to more than 40 Sun Chemical sites across the U.S. and Canada. Through commodity risk management, market analysis, utility bill management and strategic energy sourcing, Schneider Electric has helped Sun Chemical save more than $12 million in energy costs over the course of the partnership.
Engineering at the Carlstadt site is underway, and construction is expected to be complete by fall 2017.
For more information, visit schneider-electric.com/ess, or follow Schneider Electric Energy and Sustainability Services on Twitter or LinkedIn.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is the global specialist in energy management and automation. With revenues of ~$30 billion in FY2015, our 160,000+ employees serve customers in over 100 countries, helping them to manage their energy and process in ways that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable. From the simplest of switches to complex operational systems, our technology, software and services improve the way our customers manage and automate their operations. Our connected technologies reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives. At Schneider Electric, we call this Life Is On.
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SOURCE Schneider Electric
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