Many people judge a solar project based on whether or not it will run an entire facility.
But most industrial locations use a great deal more electricity than any single location’s ability to generate.
Just how big of a difference does partial solar-generated electricity really make?
Distributed clean energy provides many industrial operators with a practical entry point to the market.
Rather than waiting for cleaner electricity to flow through the grid, companies are creating it for themselves.
The Morris Project demonstrates how solar-generated electricity can assist in supporting the manufacture of chemicals.
One new solar project became the starting point
A manufacturing plant located in Morris, Illinois, recently began producing electricity generated from a newly installed solar system.
This represents the company’s first solar-generating facility in the United States.
The anticipated amount of electricity generated per year will be approximately 3,400 MW-hrs.
All of this electricity will be delivered directly to the facility and will assist in producing raw materials needed for everyday cleaning supplies, personal care products, and crop protection products.
A partnership between Nouryon and local energy provider Convergent Energy & Power was formed to develop the installation.
Powering the entire facility was never the goal
Large manufacturing facilities typically utilize large amounts of electrical energy to continue operating.
Because most operate continuously, it is very difficult for a single solar array to generate enough electricity to meet the total electrical needs of a facility.
However, the new solar installation is anticipated to generate approximately 10% of the total electrical energy requirements of the facility annually.
Employees running the chemical lines are now doing so with cleaner electricity.
The consistent generation allows the facility to decrease its dependence on traditional grid power when production levels reach maximum capacity.
The solar generation clearly demonstrates that localized green power generation can support high-demand chemical synthesis scheduling.
The impact extends beyond the electricity generated
Nouryon estimates that the project will eliminate approximately 1,152 MT CO2e per year.
These estimated emission reductions align with the company’s objective to reduce its absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 40% by 2030 versus its 2019 baseline.
Company officials stated that the Morris Project specifically reduced the scope 2 emissions attributed to the company’s key consumer product ingredients.
Accordingly, the company views the Morris Project as a logical, responsible step toward achieving its longer-term climate commitments.
In 2025, renewables accounted for approximately 54% of Nouryon’s global electricity consumption.
Generating electricity solved only part of the challenge
Nouryon’s decentralized method enables chemical manufacturers to incorporate clean energy into their processes without disrupting operations at their heavy manufacturing plants.
On-site generation assets deliver direct power into the operations of the local manufacturing plant to match regional energy loads.
Step-by-step introduction of clean energy enables continuous batch runs while decreasing the need for fossil fuels.
Convergent Energy & Power’s design methodology assures that on-site generation assets follow industrial load profiles to ensure safe operation.
Convergent works with local storage and grid partners to help heavy processors manage variable power loads.
The Morris project is not operating alone
Morris is one of several recent renewable energy projects, alongside installations in Mons, Belgium, Singapore, and Guangzhou, China.
Upcoming installations are scheduled to take place in Fort Worth and Houston, Texas, as well as Asa, Japan.
System-wide deployment ensures that the cumulative impact of individually deployed local systems accumulates across Nouryon’s global manufacturing footprint.
Small projects can lead to larger changes
Projects such as the Morris demonstrate growing reliance among companies on smaller investments in clean energy.
As additional projects go live, cumulative benefits throughout Nouryon’s manufacturing network can emerge.
These smaller projects show how chemical manufacturing can gradually transition toward lower-carbon operations.
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