Bayer, Germany’s largest pharmaceutical company, announces the installation of a 2.7 MW solar and 1 MW / 2 MWh energy storage system at its vegetable research and development site in Woodland, California, the US.
This solar array installation will supply 70% of the site’s electrical energy demand.
Enrique Wehlen, Head of Sustainability, Safety, Health & Environments (SSHE) North America at Bayer, declared, “With this new installation, the Woodland site is the most onsite solar-powered operation within Bayer globally.”
The Woodland solar power project is part of Bayer’s broader strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and achieve net-zero waste across its entire value chain by 2050. These targets, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
In collaboration with Enel North America, Bayer’s Woodland solar installation covers approximately 10 acres of the 210-acre property devoted to agricultural research. The ground-mounted solar panels are complemented by an energy storage system to offset evening peak power demand.
Additionally, the project incorporates plans for installing eight Electric Vehicle chargers later this year.
Staci A Rosenberger, Woodland & San Juan Bautista Site Operations Lead at Bayer, highlighted the environmental benefits, stating, “With this investment, we will reduce our impact on the environment and offset electrical usage during peak demand, benefiting not only our company but surrounding communities as well.”
Over the estimated 30-year lifespan of the solar project, Bayer plans to cultivate flowering cover crops, such as wildflowers, between the rows of solar panels. This initiative not only adds aesthetic value but also serves as a habitat for pollinators and contributes to soil remediation.
Bayer’s Woodland site, established in 1972, is a hub for plant breeders, scientists, administrators, and agronomists from over 20 different countries.
