Ford purchases Solar Energy for Carbon-Free Vehicle production. A great step towards the motor company’s climate goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025. A deal made with DTE energy will add 650 megawatts of new solar energy capacity in Dearborn, Michigan base. The renewable energy purchase is the biggest in history ever made from a utility in the US. Alongside DTE’s MIGreenPower program, Ford will be able to manufacture every vehicle in the state of Michigan with renewable energy by 2025. 10 years earlier than Ford’s Global goal. Furthermore, Ford has aims to power all operations around the world with renewable energy by 2035.
Ford’s plans to reach Carbon-Free Vehicle Production
- Ford – carbon-free vehicle production as a result of the purchase will avoid as much as 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be avoided annually.
- Though DTE’s MIGreenPower program, DTE will add 650 megawatts of new solar energy in Michigan for Ford motor company.
- Every Ford vehicle electric and gas will be assembled with equivalent of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2025. (10 years earlier than Ford’s global goal).
- DTE estimated that building of the solar arrays will create 250 temporary jobs and 10 permanent jobs.
Ford will purchase 650 megawatts of new solar energy at Michigan headquarters from DTE energy. According to data from the Solar Energy industries Association, the purchase will increase the state’s total installed solar energy amount by 70%. Allowing Ford to manufacture in a green environmentally friendly way, with carbon-free electricity.
“This unprecedented agreement is all about a greener and brighter future for Ford and for Michigan. Today is an example of what it looks like to lead… to turn talk into action.”
said Jim Farley, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company.
Ford’s focus on green movement
Earlier this year, Ford split the company in two, the Ford Model E Division for electric vehicles and Ford Blue division for gas vehicles. The divide will allow Ford to focus on their electric vehicle operations seperately. Aswell as keep in line with their traditional business. Ford will need all the clean energy they can get, since they have high aims of producing 600,000 electric cars by 2023. And 2 million EVs by 2026. Although not all of this mass of production will be produced in Michigan. So far Ford has produced 3 fully electric models. Including the record holding Mustang E Mach, the popular Ford F150 Lightning pick up truck being the latest launch in July.
Ford is a leading brand in the electric revolution, recently opening two battery plants in Kentucky and one in Tenessee. As a result as many as 11,000 jobs will be created. These manufacturing sites, part of ‘Blue Oval city’ are for Ford to focus on reimagining how electric vehicles and batteries are designed, built and recycled. “Ford Model e will be Ford’s center of innovation and growth, a team of the world’s best software, electrical and automotive talent turned loose to create truly incredible electric vehicles and digital experiences for new generations of Ford customers,” Farley said.
Ford and DTE Energy’s renewable energy partnership
“We want to congratulate Ford Motor Company for its environmental leadership and commitment to clean energy.” Said Jerry Norcia, chairman and CEO, DTE Energy. “Ford was the first large industrial customer to enroll in our MIGreenPower program in 2019. We thank Ford for its continued commitment to using MIGreenPower to help decarbonize its operations and meet its sustainability goals.”
DTE has more than 600 businesses enrolled in the program aswell as more than 62,000 residential customers. Yearly MIGreenPower customers have purchased 2.8 million megawatt hours of clean energy. Which has the environmental benefit equivalent to avoiding 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Ford joined with DTE’s program in 2019, becoming its first large industrial customer.
MIGreenPower programme- Is a simple and cost effective programme with aims of providing clean energy to homes. DTE have more than 50 wind and solar parks that are currently providing power to over 700,000 homes. Their goal is to generate enough energy from Michigan wind and solar to power more than one million homes by 2025.
9th October 2022