Trinseo’s Tessenderlo, Belgium, facility has reached an exciting new milestone: the site activated its new solar installation, complementing its existing renewable energy infrastructure. Featuring 664 solar panels, this project builds on the site’s efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil-based electricity.
In 2021, the Tessenderlo facility began investing in wind energy through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), enabling the facility to integrate wind-generated electricity into its operations. With both technologies now working in tandem, the site is well-positioned to efficiently leverage renewable power year-round.
The new solar installation generates about 2.5% of the site’s total annual electricity consumption. Together with the wind turbines, which contribute around 25% of annual consumption, the facility now produces approximately 27.5% of its electricity through renewable energy sources.
“This new solar installation reflects our strategy to provide our facilities with affordable physical renewable energy,” says Ake Zondervan, Trinseo’s Global Energy Procurement Manager. “More broadly, the project supports Trinseo’s 2030 Sustainability Goal to increase our share of electricity from non-fossil sources from 5% to 30% by 2030.”
What sets this installation apart from Trinseo’s other solar projects is its tailored engineering solution designed specifically for the Tessenderlo warehouse roof. Because the roof is built at a 5° incline and is made of a specialized synthetic rubber, it may not be punctured to attach traditional solar frames. To address this challenge, engineers from GreenPulse designed a mirrored system with solar structures on both sides of the roof, connected through a unique over-ridge coupling. This connection links both sides of the structure, providing mutual support and preventing movement across the roof surface. This configuration is not only highly specialized but also enhances the long-term stability of the system.
The successful rollout of the solar installation is setting a model for how site-level initiative and technical innovation can accelerate progress at a companywide level. “The local team in Tessenderlo played a critical role in bringing this project to fruition,” explains Zondervan. “Their dedication and commitment to innovation and sustainability has been instrumental in bringing both the 2021 wind energy integration and the new solar installation to life.”
This is Trinseo’s third solar installation to come online in recent years. Previous installations include those at sites in Hamina, Finland, and Terneuzen, the Netherlands.
For more information on Trinseo’s sustainability strategy and goals, visit Trinseo.com/Sustainability
