DENSO 'Flips the Switch' on Solar Facility at Tennessee Manufacturing Site with City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch, and TVA

Solar production facility is the first of four the partners have planned for Tennessee, supports push for cleaner, more sustainable energy

MARYVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO, alongside the City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), has "flipped the switch" on a solar facility at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. (DMTN). In a ceremony today, the group officially launched operations of the 12.82-acre energy infrastructure project, kicking off its efforts to produce green energy for DENSO's operations and support the local power grid.

Powered by over 4,000 state-of-the art solar panels, the new facility is expected to produce up to approximately 3,400 MWh/year. The project partners broke ground on the solar farm in November 2022 and finished construction this summer.

Today marks the completion of the first of three solar energy production facilities the group plans to bring online in Blount County, Tennessee. Silicon Ranch projects the second facility to be online by December of 2025 and anticipates that the third will come online in the second quarter of 2026.

In addition to its role in the three solar projects in Blount County, DENSO will also source solar energy from a fourth Silicon Ranch facility elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley through TVA's Green Invest program. The TVA program offers business and industry a timely and cost-effective solution to meet their sustainability goals. When all facilities are completed, DENSO will leverage each, along with other conservation initiatives, to source all of DMTN's electrical needs from renewable energy sources.

Today's milestone comes as DENSO celebrates its 35^th year of operations in Maryville.

"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. "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."

"Working with our community partners on these projects aligns with our mission to provide reliable, low-cost energy to the Valley region," said Ray Knotts, TVA Senior Director, Demand Management. "Flipping this switch in partnership with DENSO, the City of Maryville, and Silicon Ranch helps TVA meet growing electricity demand and diversifies our portfolio."

Headquartered in Nashville, Silicon Ranch is owner and operator of one of the nation's largest fleets of solar facilities and a community-focused energy infrastructure company. The company pioneered utility-scale solar in the Tennessee Valley and remains a market leader, working collaboratively with TVA and more than 50 local power companies (LPCs) across the region since 2011.

"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."

The effort supports the City of Maryville's work with local partners to improve sustainability in the region.

"This solar energy asset is another example of the next-level innovation we've come to expect from our community's largest manufacturer and employer — DENSO," said City of Maryville Mayor Andy White. "Our partnership with TVA, DENSO, and Silicon Ranch in this effort, highlights our commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Providing quality utility infrastructure and affordable service to the residents, businesses, and industries we serve every day remains our top priority."

The project supports DENSO's Two Great Causes: Green and Peace of Mind. Through DENSO's Green cause, it aims to be carbon neutral by 2035.

To explore opportunities at a leading manufacturer committed to collaborative innovation for a greener and safer world, visit densocareers.com.

About DENSO
Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 180 facilities worldwide to provide opportunities for rewarding careers and to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company's 158,000 global employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 8.6 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. For more information about DENSO's operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global/en/. 

In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ team members across nearly 50 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, DENSO in North America generated $12.5 billion in consolidated sales. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region and explore career opportunities, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/. 

About Silicon Ranch
Founded in 2011, Silicon Ranch is a fully integrated provider of customized solar energy, battery storage, and carbon solutions. The company is one of the largest independent power producers in the U.S., with a portfolio that includes more than seven gigawatts of solar and battery storage systems that are contracted, under construction, or operating across the U.S. and Canada. Silicon Ranch owns and operates every project in its portfolio and has maintained an unrivalled track record of project execution. Silicon Ranch has the largest wholly owned agrivoltaics portfolio in the country under Regenerative Energy®, its nationally recognized agribusiness and holistic approach to project design, construction, and land stewardship. This model incorporates regenerative ranching and other regenerative land stewardship practices to restore soil health, promote biodiversity, and improve water quality. Silicon Ranch's carbon solutions platform, Clearloop®, helps businesses of all sizes reclaim their carbon footprint by commissioning new solar projects in American communities where significant economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. Follow Silicon Ranch on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About the City of Maryville
The City of Maryville is home to more than 30,000 residents and 4,000 business and industrial organizations. We deliver quality services, infrastructure efforts, and economic development activities that contribute to the award-winning quality of life the community enjoys. Find us at maryvillegov.com.

About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation's largest public power supplier, delivering energy to more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states. TVA has one of the most diverse energy systems – including nuclear, hydro, solar, gas, and advanced technologies. To prepare for the future, TVA is making significant investments in its power system toward new generation and transmission.

TVA is a corporate agency of the United States, receiving no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. TVA maintains some of the lowest energy costs and highest reliability in the nation. TVA's retail rates are lower than 80 percent of the rest of the nation, while its industrial rates are lower than 95 percent of the top utilities. In addition, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.

SOURCE DENSO