The cleanest factory! SABIC's factories will use 100% renewable energy-EEWORLD

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Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has signed a major agreement to transform its polycarbonate plant in Cartagena, Spain, into the world’s first large-scale chemical production base to run entirely on renewable energy.

Based on the agreement, Iberdrola, one of the world's largest power companies, will invest nearly 70 million euros to build a 100 MW solar photovoltaic power plant on land owned by SABIC. When the plant, equipped with 263,000 panels, is fully operational in 2024, it will become Europe's largest renewable energy power generation facility for industrial use.

The 25-year agreement marks another major milestone in SABIC's global journey to use cleaner energy in its operations. SABIC plans to deploy 4 GW of wind or solar power generation facilities for its global factories by 2025, and increase this number to 12 GW by 2030. In 2019, SABIC installed solar panels at its factories in India and Thailand, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 200 tons. In addition, SABIC's "House of Innovation" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been fully powered by photovoltaic power since 2015.

“This milestone with Iberdrola marks another step forward in our long-term sustainability and clean energy goals. The close partnership we have built is the cornerstone of SABIC’s growth model,” said Dr. Bob Maughon, SABIC’s Executive Vice President, Sustainability, Technology & Innovation, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer. “The Cartagena Solar PV project not only demonstrates our continued commitment to the chemical industry’s sustainability agenda, but also demonstrates the feasibility of such a large-scale transformation.”

Dr. Bob Maughan added: “Thanks to the many technological breakthroughs in the renewable energy sector in recent years, large-scale projects like ours have gradually become possible. SABIC’s strong commitment to technology and innovation has driven us to stay at the forefront of the industry. At the same time, this also means that we are in an excellent position to immediately carry out such pioneering transformation. This photovoltaic power plant will help us indirectly reduce 80,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, further strengthening our support and contribution to a series of climate change response initiatives, including the EU’s 2030 Climate and Energy Framework, and deepening our alignment and response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

After the Cartagena Solar PV Plant is put into operation, SABIC's customers, especially those in the automotive and construction industries, will have access to polycarbonate products and solutions produced 100% from renewable energy. In today's world that is constantly pursuing low-carbon and environmental protection, SABIC will also be able to more effectively meet the urgent needs of customers and consumers for more sustainable solutions.

“Important collaborations like the one we have with SABIC not only strengthen the competitiveness of renewable energy, but also continue to open up opportunities for innovative projects that are reshaping the energy industry,” said Eduardo Insunza, Global Director, Corporate Accounts, Iberdrola. “Long-term power purchase agreements have the ability to provide greater stability to investments and have long been the preferred tool for managing power supply for large customers committed to clean and sustainable energy.”

In Riyadh, SABIC's global headquarters is actively preparing for the application of photovoltaic power generation technology. The feasibility study of the 300-megawatt solar array project jointly carried out by SABIC, its public utility joint venture Marafiq and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu has entered the final stage. The project is located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia and is planned to cost US$300 million. After completion, the electricity produced will be uniformly distributed by SABIC for use by local chemical plants.

Committed to better meet the changing needs of customers and consumers, SABIC has also launched the TRUCIRCLE™ circular solution product series. Covering all recyclable materials and technologies such as SABIC's certified circular polymers made from waste plastics through chemical recycling and certified bio-based renewable polymers, TRUCIRCLE™ is seen as the key to promoting the deepening development of SABIC's world-class sustainable product business. At present, this series of efforts to strengthen the use of renewable energy from the source of production will surely enable TRUCIRCLE™ to more effectively help SABIC further realize its sustainable development vision.