Achema set up a solar park on the factory site

Achema has set up a solar park on its factory site in order to develop sustainable energy and increase production efficiency. The project, partly financed by the European Union, covers an area of almost 8 hectares and is divided into two parts – the Western and Neris Parks. The total capacity of the plants is 6.7 MW. According to model calculations, the solar park will generate around 6,8 thousand MWh of green electricity per year.

“The transition to renewable energy sources is an integral part of our long-term sustainability strategy. This project is not only an investment in green energy, but also in increasing the company’s competitiveness,” emphasised Egidijus Juzėnas, Technical Director of Achema.

The project was implemented in stages. In August 2023, the first construction works started, and in December 2024, the commissioning of the power plants started. The power plant is expected to reach the required design capacity in spring this year, with final completion of the project, including all start-up and commissioning works and the required electricity generation volumes, by early summer.

“Before the project started, a lot of preparatory work was carried out: the foundations of the previous buildings on the site were dismantled, the land was levelled, communications were removed and a protective fence was erected. Our goal is to make efficient use of the existing vacant land and to create long-term benefits for production processes,” said Edgaras Senkinas, Head of Achema’s Project Execution Department.

The project was implemented under the European Union programme “Renewable Energy Sources in Industrial Enterprises”, in cooperation with the Environmental Project Management Agency (EPMA). The financing contract was signed in April 2023. Achema has invested €4.1 million in this project.

According to Egidijus Juzėnas, the company’s Technical Director, Achema’s production processes are extremely energy intensive, with the plant consuming more than 350 thousand MWh of electricity per year depending on its operating mode, temperature fluctuations and other technological parameters. The company has not had its own renewable electricity sources until now.

“Most of our electricity is generated in a cogeneration gas power plant and the rest is purchased from the external grid. Our long-term goal is to consistently increase our own renewable energy capacity. The solar park is a strategic step towards increasing our energy independence and reducing CO2 emissions,” said Mr. Juzėnas.