Rivian
Rivian
ForeFront Power developed a 783 kW DC solar parking canopy at Rivian's EV manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois.
Rivian needed to give new R1 vehicles their first charge from clean energy while advancing its net-zero by 2040 commitment and showcasing climate leadership at its Normal, Illinois EV manufacturing plant.
ForeFront Power developed a 783 kW DC solar parking canopy integrated with Rivian DC Fleet chargers, creating an outbound Solar Charging Yard that can charge 72 vehicles at once with on-site renewable power.
The system is expected to generate about 1.04 million kWh of clean electricity annually, avoid roughly 800 tons of CO₂ per year, and—together with a forthcoming 2.8 MW wind turbine—enable new R1 vehicles to receive their first charge entirely from on-site renewables.
ForeFront Power partnered with Rivian to develop a 783 kW DC solar parking canopy at its state-of-the-art EV manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois. The solar canopy is equipped with Rivian EV chargers to make up the Rivian manufacturing plant’s outbound Solar Charging Yard.
Rivian commented: “We’ve flipped the switch on the Solar Charging Yard in Normal. It uses our Rivian DC Fleet System to charge 72 vehicles at once. We’re also working to install a 2.8 megawatt wind turbine, which means soon, R1 vehicles will get their first charge entirely from on-site renewables.”
The project is expected to generate 1.04 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, renewable electricity annually, and our estimates show it will avoid emitting approximately 800 tons of CO2 per year.
Rivian’s Solar Charging Yard came online in September 2022. Together with the forthcoming wind turbine on the east side of the manufacturing plant, the Solar Charging Yard will help power new R1 vehicles completely with clean energy for their first charge, before they are delivered to Rivian customers.
“Rivian’s Solar Charging Yard project is a testament to the company’s climate and sustainability leadership, showing U.S. customers what a clean energy future looks like within the auto industry,” said Rachel McLaughlin, SVP of Sales & Marketing at ForeFront Power
Rivian has signed the Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
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