More than 61,000 solar panels to help power Enbridge operations in Wisconsin
Solar energy farms at Adams, Portage to provide electricity for our pump stations
Feb. 22, 2023
Solar farms at Adams and Portage will soon generate 20 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to offset electricity used at two pump stations on Enbridge’s Wisconsin Liquids Pipeline System.
This system transports crude oil that’s refined to fuel transportation and industry and provide raw material to create products ranging from medications and medical equipment to cell phones and clothing.
“Like a house that’s using solar panels to provide electricity for the home, these panels provide electricity for the pump stations,” says Jerrid Anderson, Enbridge’s Midwest Region Director.
“These sites use bi-facial panels which are able to capture sunlight from the top and bottom,” added Phil LaFlamme, Enbridge Project Manager. “This allows us to use all that light that is reflected off of the snow at this time of year, which makes these panels more efficient throughout the year.”
The panels are mounted on a single axis tracker that is computer automated to track the sun. At peak sun, the solar farms can offset two thirds of the electricity used at the two pump stations. Overall, solar energy is expected to reduce the stations’ power consumption from the grid by 15% to 20%.
The solar energy is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 217,500 metric tons through 2030, which is the equivalent of taking 46,868 cars off the road.
It is part of Enbridge’s broader plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero by 2050. Since announcing this goal in 2020, Enbridge has sanctioned the development of 13 solar self-power projects. Taken together, these projects will produce more than 110 MW of clean energy capacity, which is the equivalent of powering 26,600 households with emission free electricity.
“We all realize that we have to do our part in sustainability,” added LaFlamme.
“Enbridge is a leader in safe and reliable energy transportation,” said Anderson. “We’re looking forward to the future.”
Enbridge has proudly operated in Wisconsin since 1949. In 2022 Enbridge spent over $220 million on capital expenditures and operations in the state and paid $45 million in taxes. More than 320 Enbridge employees live and work in Wisconsin. Learn more about Enbridge in Wisconsin here.
More about Enbridge’s solar program as well as the company’s other initiatives to reach net-zero GHG emissions can be found here.
The solar farms at Adams and Portage are expected to come online in April.
