Bayer on Tuesday announced a recently completed solar installation at its main U.S. offices in Whippany. The announcement follows the health care giant’s new solar array installation at its vegetable research and development site in Woodland, California.
The new solar energy projects, each designed to reduce energy costs while promoting sustainability, are being unveiled Tuesday to employees and community leaders at local events.
Both projects align with Bayer’s sustainability commitments to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and to have net-zero waste across its entire value chain by 2050.
Bayer said that a key strategy to achieving its reduction targets, which have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, is to purchase 100% sustainable renewable electricity by 2030. Bayer has put a large focus on leveraging energy efficiency and clean energy resources to achieve its robust, science-based sustainability targets.
“These solar installations are a strong signal to our employees, customers and communities where we live and operate of our commitment to GHG emission reduction,”
Delf Bintakies, global head of sustainability, safety, health & environments at Bayer, said. “Bayer sets specific criteria for its own procurement of green energy. This includes the proximity of energy production facilities to Bayer sites, the use of new sources of generation and a focus on wind and solar power.”
Bayer has been utilizing solar energy for over 20 years, starting with a solar installation at its North America Consumer Health Research & Development labs in Morristown. The recent launch of the Whippany and Woodland solar projects represents the latest renewable energy efforts by the company in the U.S.
In Whippany, Bayer partnered with DSD Renewables to complete a 1.7-megawatt ground mount solar installation that will offset approximately 25% of the Whippany site’s total annual usage. The installation is comprised of 3,600 modules that will follow or “track” the sun’s path from east to west each day. The design, which was completed in December, helps maximize the energy the system can produce.
Throughout the development of the solar project, which began in October 2022, there were a number of design nuances, which the DSD team had to account for. Marrying form and functionality, the team strategically preserved the surrounding landscaping while optimizing solar production. This involved shifting a fence line and limiting tree removal, adding river rock to match the site’s aesthetic and coordinating closely with the team at Bayer to ensure its on-site bee colony at Whippany, which is used for tree pollination, was not disrupted.
“This installation is the perfect example of our approach to solar development, engineering, construction, and financing,” Dan O’Brien, vice president of commercial origination at DSD, said. “We’re proud to have met the unique needs and nuances of the site while delivering a valuable and aesthetically fitting project for Bayer’s main U.S. offices.”
