Toyota Alabama Completes 30 MW Solar Project
The 168-Acre Project Will Generate About 70% Of Toyota Alabama’s Total Energy Usage
Toyota Alabama, Toyota Tsusho America Inc. (TAI), and Huntsville Utilities completed a US$49 million solar project at Toyota’s Alabama plant. The 30 MW project was made possible by a joint power purchase agreement (PPA). The accomplishment brings Toyota one step closer to achieving its goal of carbon neutrality at all North American facilities by 2035.
“Toyota is committed to clean and sustainable power. We know that the collective future for our community and our team members depends on clean mobility, clean air, clean water, and biodiversity,” said Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama. “We are thankful for our partners on this project who have created a model of environmental stewardship in North Alabama.”
The project will generate about 70% of Toyota Alabama’s total energy usage. In total, the array will generate approximately 62,000 MWh of energy on an annual basis, reducing an estimated 24,251 tons (22,000 tonnes) of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year.
“Clean solar energy is vital for powering the City of Huntsville as we continue to see a steady rise in energy demand,” said Huntsville, Alabama Mayor Tommy Battle. “Our partnership with Toyota has been instrumental in advancing this initiative, and we are excited about upcoming solar projects that will further enhance our commitment to sustainability and a cleaner future for our community.”
The solar array, located in the North Huntsville Industrial Park, surrounds Toyota Alabama with 72,000 individual solar panels. The site spans 168-acres (68 ha), which is equal to 127 football fields. The project started in June 2023 and was led by TAI’s Energy Infrastructure Solutions team. TAI owns the solar array and is responsible for long-term operations.
“Bringing projects like this to life aligns with TAI’s goal to create positive impacts in local communities, while also helping to create pathways to a sustainable future globally,” said Chris Simmons, TAI division head for green infrastructure. “TAI strives to be a model of responsible corporate environmental stewardship, and this partnership illustrates how we can work together to create a better future for us all.”
The PPA between TAI and Huntsville Utilities is the largest flexibility agreement of its kind, allowing the cost-to-serve municipal utility to purchase clean energy. “Innovative approaches to clean energy generation are critical to Huntsville’s future growth,” said Wes Kelley, president and chief executive officer of Huntsville Utilities. “Toyota’s forward-thinking approach to carbon neutrality has paved the way for additional public-private collaborations.”
