Car manufacturer Nissan has announced plans for a major expansion to renewable energy generation at its plant in Sunderland, UK, complementing the facility’s existing wind turbines and solar farm.

The proposed 20 MW extension to the solar farm at the site, consisting of 37,000 additional solar panels, represents a further step in Nissan’s path to carbon neutrality and would result in 20 percent of the plant’s energy coming from onsite renewables if approved. This would generate enough renewable energy to build every single zero-emission Nissan LEAF sold in Europe.

The plans are to be shared with the local community this week, ahead of a formal planning application being submitted.

“Renewables have already made a big difference to our business and we continue to look for ways to make the manufacturing process more sustainable” said Alan Johnson, Vice President Manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland. “As our products made in Sunderland become increasingly electrified, our manufacturing operations are an important part of the ecosystem that will take us to carbon neutrality.”

Sources: Renewable Energy Magazine