Cabot Corporation Announces Acquisition of Solar Farm in Japan
Global specialty chemicals and performance materials company Cabot Corporation has acquired the Chiba solar farm from Shoko Co., Ltd.
The solar farm adjoins Cabot’s carbon black manufacturing facility in Chiba, Japan and will enable Cabot to export solar power as renewable energy to the electrical grid in the region.
The Chiba solar farm generates up to 3,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year of electricity, which is equivalent to powering over 700 homes in Japan annually. The acquisition supports the company’s sustainability strategy as the solar farm is an investment in renewable energy.
One of Boston headquartered Cabot’s 2025 global sustainability goals is to export twice the amount of energy that it imports.
To help achieve this goal, Cabot recovers, uses, and exports energy from its manufacturing processes to reduce its own emissions as well as reduce the net emissions of nearby businesses and communities and aid in the global transition to a lower carbon future.
To further its efforts, Cabot looks to incorporate renewable energy sources into its network. With the acquisition of the Chiba solar farm, Cabot Japan has increased its energy ratio, or the amount of energy exported over imported, to 233% which represents a further step forward in achieving the firms overall 2025 energy goal.
“Over the years we have incorporated a number of initiatives to reduce our energy consumption and harness energy from our processes by installing energy centers to produce power without creating any additional emissions. As we pursue a net zero future we will need to continue to expand and diversify energy sources,” said Bart Kalkstein, executive vice president and president, Reinforcement Materials segment.
“As an industry leader, we are making proactive investments in renewable energy sources, such as this solar farm, that can be exported to nearby businesses and communities. With this acquisition, we are supplying renewable energy in the local area as well as furthering our commitment to being a responsible neighbor to the Chiba Prefecture community.”
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