Ford Expands Renewable Energy Efforts with New Solar Power Plant in Valencia, Spain

Ford has taken another significant step towards its goal of carbon neutrality across its European footprint of facilities, logistics, and suppliers by 2035 with the installation of a new solar power plant at its Almussafes manufacturing facilities in Valencia, Spain. The plant, which began operating in late 2022, is a major contributor to the company's ambition to use 100% carbon-free electricity in all manufacturing globally by 2035. The solar power plant, which covers a non-productive area of the plant, is capable of producing the equivalent power every year to run 1,400 average homes.

Key Takeaways:

• The current production of close to 4,641 megawatthours per year from the solar power plant will increase by 3,762 megawatthours per year this summer, equivalent to 1,100 additional average homes.
• Ford aims to expand the areas of solar panels on further non-productive land, targeting to reach 10 megawatts of peak power by 2024.
• The company has already achieved 100% carbon-free electricity in all electric energy purchased to power its manufacturing facilities across Europe since January 1, 2022.
• Ford's Valencia factory will make a meaningful reduction in its current electricity demand from the national grid this year.
• The company's director, Sustainable, Environmental and Safety Engineering, Stuart Southgate, emphasizes the importance of renewable energy sources in achieving the company's goal of carbon neutrality.
• Ford is continuously looking for ways to increase the use of renewable energy and has the ambition to use 100% carbon-free electricity in all manufacturing globally by 2035.
• The company has the goal of producing zero emissions electric vehicles for all vehicle sales in Europe by 2035.

Statistics:

• 4,641 megawatthours (MWh) per year: The current production from the solar power plant.
• 3,762 MWh per year: The increase in production from the solar power plant this summer.
• 1,400: The number of average homes equivalent to the power generated by the solar power plant every year.
• 2024: The target year for reaching 10 megawatts of peak power from the expanded solar power plant.
• 100%: The percentage of carbon-free electricity in all electric energy purchased by Ford's manufacturing facilities across Europe since January 1, 2022.
• 1,100: The number of additional average homes equivalent to the power generated by the solar power plant this summer.

Sources:

• [Ford Motor Company: Ford Expands Renewable Energy Efforts with New Solar Power Plant in Valencia, Spain]
• [Ford Motor Company: Ford+ Plan for Growth and Value Creation]
• [Red Eléctrica EspaÑola: Average Electric Consumption of an Average Home in Spain]
• [Ford Motor Company: About Ford Motor Company]