Wacker Chemical Corporation announced that it has completed the installation of a roof mounted 302.22 kW photovoltaic solar electric system, a 10.95 kW Ground Mount and three EV Charging Stations at their Polymers Division in Allentown, PA.

Milton Dodson, Controller of Wacker’s Polymers Division, said the solar array will offset approximately 20% of Wacker’s annual electric usage at the Allentown site, representing an important accomplishment in Wacker’s ongoing environmental and sustainability commitment. Wacker achieved its goal to integrate renewable energy into its 67,000 sq. ft. building here, which houses Administrative and R&D functions.

When the company originally investigated solar energy in 2010, the economics for their project simply did not work. However, working together with RER Energy Group, and thanks to a significant decline in solar energy system costs over the last eight years, coupled with grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, RER was able to provide Wacker a cost-effective solar installation. The 302-kW array is anticipated to provide 384,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy per year at an effective cost of approximately $0.03 per kWh.

According to Loretta Ottinger, the sales representative for RER Energy Group, the roof array consists of 828 (365 Watt) modules, containing photovoltaic panels based on hyper pure monocrystalline polysilicon. Wacker is one of the world’s leading producers of polysilicon, with its newest facility in Charleston, TN.

The array will produce more than 384,520 kWh of renewable energy annually, reducing Wacker’s carbon footprint by 272 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the environment. The clean energy is equivalent to annual greenhouse gas emissions from 57 cars.

In addition to the roof array, Wacker also installed a 10.95 kW photovoltaic ground mount array and three EV charging stations in their parking area. Milton commented that the roof array “offers the dual opportunity to do good for the environment, while having an ideal way to showcase our polysilicon product and sustainability efforts.”

About Wacker Chemical
WACKER is a globally-active chemical company with some 14,500 employees and annual sales of around €4.98 billion (2018). The company develops and manufactures products in the silicone, polymer, fine chemicals, and polysilicon
industries. WACKER has a global network of 24 production sites, 21 technical competence centers and 50 sales offices.
WACKER SILICONES
Silicone fluids, emulsions, rubber grades and resins; silanes; pyrogenic silicas; thermoplastic silicone elastomers
WACKER POLYMERS
Polyvinyl acetates and vinyl acetate copolymers and terpolymers in the form of dispersible polymer powders, dispersions, solid resins and solutions
WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS
Biotech products such as cyclodextrins, cysteine and biologics, as well as fine chemicals and PVAc solid resins
WACKER POLYSILICON
Polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries