The UK operations of Japanese automobile maker Nissan will be powered by an additional 20 MW renewable capacity after it received planning approval to add a solar power plant at its Sunderland located facility. In addition, a 1 MW battery energy storage system will also be installed on site equipped with 2nd life Nissan EV batteries to balance demand on the grid.
The 20 MW project will double the amount of renewable electricity already generated on location to cover 20% of the plant's needs which, it explained, will be enough to build every 100% electric Nissan LEAF model sold in Europe.
Back in July 2021, the group announced its £1 billion flagship Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub, dubbed EV36Zero project in partnership with Sunderland City Council and battery technology company Envision AESC, under which the company plans to achieve carbon neutrality. It brings together 3 interconnected initiatives of renewable energy, EVs and battery production.
The 20 MW solar facility is 1st of a potential 10 additional solar farms planned under the flagship initiative. Engenera Renewables Group plans to start development process immediately, installing the plant alongside the existing 6.6 MW wind power and 4.75 MW solar farm capacity, eying a commissioning timeline of May 2022.
"We have been using renewable sources on-site for more than 15 years. The expansion of our solar farm is an integral part of the Nissan EV36Zero project and the company's journey to carbon neutrality," said Nissan Sunderland's Vice President Manufacturing, Alan Johnson.
Back in October 2021, when Engenera submitted the planning application for the 20 MW facility, it said this would involve installing 37,000 solar panels on site and that the project will be operated for 40 years. It would also 'kickstart a second phase of decarbonization plans for Nissan, also delivered by Engenera, which would involve solar car ports, EV charging stations, and a range of renewable heat solutions'.