US Celanese looks to solar energy to power Texas chem site

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Solar energy will play a significant role in powering Celanese’s acetyl intermediates chemical site in Clear Lake, Texas, the US-based producer said on Tuesday.

Celanese said that under a 15-year supply contract extension with Calpine Energy Solutions, solar power will be part of the electricity supply mix for Clear Lake.

Calpine is expected to supply the Celanese Clear Lake facility with 45 megawatts (MW) of peak solar contracted capacity.

On an annualised basis, this represents about 142,000 MW hours of renewable energy and will equate to taking approximately 14,500 cars off the road, Celanese said.

The contract equates to about 33% of Celanese’s annual electricity consumption at the site and about 65% of the site’s daytime electricity usage during the summer months.

“Solar power energy is growing in relevance and significance as a source of renewable electricity and we are seeing that the resource availability is providing a better match to meet demand during critical times of the year versus other large, fast-growing, renewable sources,” said Jon Mortimer, vice president, Global Manufacturing, Celanese.

“Additionally, solar power generation to the Clear Lake facility acts as a natural hedge to help offset high electricity prices during peak hours in the summer months,” Mortimer said.

As the site owner, Celanese will extend this solar power supply to other site partners at Clear Lake.

France-based Arkema, which owns and operates acrylic acid and acrylic esters units at Clear Lake, has expressed a strong interest in solar power supply, Celanese added.

The contract’s financial terms were not disclosed.