Tuesday 16 March 2021

Nissan announces plans for 20MW onsite solar expansion for Sunderland factory

Nissan is to build a 20MW solar energy extension to the existing renewable park at its Sunderland car factory.

The automotive giant says expanding its existing wind and solar farm represents a step towards its ultimate goal of carbon-neutrality and claims the project would mean a fifth of the plant’s energy consumption would be sourced from onsite renewables.

The 37,000 panels, which will be installed by partner company Engenera, are expected to generate enough energy to build all of the Nissan LEAFs sold in Europe.

The proposed plans are to be shared with the local community ahead of the submission of a formal planning application.

Alan Johnson, Vice President Manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland, said: “Renewables have already made a big difference to our business and we continue to look for ways to make the manufacturing process more sustainable.

“As our products made in Sunderland become increasingly electrified, our manufacturing operations are an important part of the ecosystem that will take us to carbon neutrality.”