Toyota said it has moved closer to carbon-neutral operations with the installation of a 30-megawatt solar energy system at its Alabama plant. Toyota Alabama, Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI), and Huntsville Utilities marked the completion of the $49 million solar project, facilitated by a joint power purchase agreement (PPA).

This project will generate about 70% of Toyota Alabama’s total energy usage and aligns with the automaker’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality at all its North American facilities by 2035, Toyota said. The array will generate approximately 62,000 megawatt hours of energy annually, reducing an estimated 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year, according to the manufacturer.

“Toyota is committed to clean and sustainable power. We know that the collective future for our community and our team members depends on clean mobility, clean air, clean water, and biodiversity,” said Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama. “We are thankful for our partners on this project who have created a model of environmental stewardship in North Alabama.”

“Clean solar energy is vital for powering the City of Huntsville as we continue to see a steady rise in energy demand,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “Our partnership with Toyota has been instrumental in advancing this initiative, and we are excited about upcoming solar projects that will further enhance our commitment to sustainability and a cleaner future for our community.”

The solar array, located in the North Huntsville Industrial Park, surrounds Toyota Alabama with 72,000 individual solar panels. The site spans 168 acres, equivalent to 127 football fields. The project began in June 2023 and was led by TAI’s Energy Infrastructure Solutions team. TAI owns the solar array and is responsible for long-term operations.