Leading mineral-based specialty solutions provider Imerys signed a long-term corporate PPA with TotalEnergies ENEOS. A solar power system consisting of 3,200 solar panels with a capacity of 1.8 MWp will provide approximately 2,450 MWh of solar power annually to Imerys’ facility in Malaysia, covering approximately 10% of the company’s electricity needs.
Under the agreement, TotalEnergies ENEOS will fully finance, install and operate the solar energy system while Imerys only pays for the electricity generated for 25 years with no upfront investment. The system is expected to bring significant cost savings to Imerys and help reduce CO2 emissions by 1,600 tonnes per year.
It is Imerys’ first solar project in the Asia-Pacific region. “Achieving our solar project at our Ipoh factory will be the starting point for us to improve the sustainable development goal of Imerys. We will accelerate the energy transition of our specialty minerals plants in Asia Pacific, offering our customers a lower carbon footprint and more competitive products to achieve a win-win solution,” said Bruno Vandermarcq, Industrial VP of Imerys Performance Minerals Asia Pacific.
Sustainable sourcing has been positioned as an important part of Imerys’ sustainability strategy. The sourcing of sustainable and renewable resources is an effective way for the company to reduce the carbon footprint of products, minimize business risks and create competitive advantages.
There is a particular need for Imerys to use an alternative energy source to generate electricity and the cleanest energy we can use is solar energy.
—said Eugene Wong, Purchasing Manager of Imerys Performance Minerals Asia Pacific.
“We will continue to integrate sustainable sourcing programs and take a holistic approach to dealing with suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of purchased products and services and to help Imerys achieve environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.”
TotalEnergies is an active player in the corporate solar market in Asia. It was officially launched recently the 4.8 MWp solar PV system for the Indonesian Indo Kordsa and has been supplying the company with around 6,800 MWh of solar energy annually for the past 20 years.
This project for Imerys is operated by TotalEnergies ENEOS, a 50/50 joint venture between TotalEnergies and ENEOS, another developer of renewable energy projects.