Pittsburgh-based PPG, a paints, coatings, and specialty materials manufacturer, recently completed the installation of solar panels at its Caivano, Italy, facility.
The facility manufactures decorative resins for PPG’s automotive and refinish plants and electrocoat products for the industrial and automotive markets.
The 1.5 megawatt solar installation will remove approximately 390 metric tons annually of carbon dioxide emissions and is part of the company’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
“We’re committed to implementing processes and systems that will enable us to close in on our 2030 emissions reduction targets, which are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative,” Mike Corcoran, PPG global manager of operational sustainability, said. “Caivano is a strong example of how we’re ensuring our sites operate in a more sustainable and operationally efficient way.”
The solar panels, when combined with a previously installed combined heat and power unit (CHP), will achieve an approximate 15 percent reduction in annual operating costs. The unit works by capturing waste heat created from generating electricity and produces steam and hot water. This is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1,100 metric tons annually.
Italy-based Grastim JV, a high-efficiency technology solutions developer, installed the CHP unit.
PPG operates in more than 70 countries.