Austrian Borealis builds 4.7-MWp solar array to power chemicals operations

Austrian specialty chemicals maker Borealis AG is setting up a 4.7-MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system to power its production site in a town near the capital Vienna.

The construction of the new plant began in May 2022 on an industrial plot at the Borealis production site in Schwechat, the company said on Tuesday. The new array with a surface area of around 75,000 square metres (89,699 sq yd) will be completed by the end of this year and go online soon thereafter.

It is expected to produce around 5.6 GWh annually which is roughly equal to the energy consumed by 1,400 Austrian households. The new solar park will power the Borealis production operations at the site, cutting its annual carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1,200 tonnes.

The Vienna-based chemicals maker is partnering with energy company Verbund AG (VIE:VER) on the project.

This is the second joint solar project of the two companies. In the spring, a 1-MWp photovoltaic array was installed on the roof of the Borealis production site in Linz to reduce its carbon footprint.

“With a current total of three solar PV projects and multiple wind power purchase agreements across Europe, Borealis is making real progress towards realising our goal of sourcing 100% of electricity used in our own production operations from renewable energy sources by 2030," said Borealis chief executive Thomas Gangl.

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