HD Hyundai Energy installs rooftop solar plants at two CJ CheilJedang factories

The solar power plant installed on the roof of CJ CheilJedang's Jincheon, North Chungcheong factory [HD HYUNDAI]

HD Hyundai Energy Solutions, a solar power subsidiary of HD Hyundai, has completed the installation of two rooftop solar power plants at factory sites, a landmark project to bolster its footing in the renewable energy sector by leveraging unused land.

Located at CJ CheilJedang's Incheon and Jincheon, North Chungcheong factories, the newly established solar power plants have a collective capacity of 2.7 megawatts and are expected to generate around 3.5 gigawatts of renewable energy annually. HD Hyundai estimated that the installation could reduce the facilities' carbon emissions by 1,607 tons per year in a news release Monday.

The solar power plants will operate under a lease business model. Users will pay monthly fees based on their energy consumption, thereby eliminating the need for upfront investment costs and relieving maintenance responsibilities. HD Hyundai Energy Solutions will oversee the management and operation of the facilities.

Utilizing idle land for solar power generation could eliminate the hassle of finding a new space and reduce energy loss during transmission, leading to potential cost savings, the company explained. It added that such approach aligns with its corporate sustainability objectives, including the global RE100 initiative aimed at transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy consumption by 2050.

HD Hyundai Energy Solutions has been expanding its solar power initiatives by making use of idle land resources such as rooftops and parking lots.

The company inaugurated megawatt-scale solar power plants into the roof and parking lot of HD Hyundai Infracore's Incheon factory on April 5. Those facilities produce around 1.3 gigawatts of renewable energy annually, resulting in a reduction of approximately 600 tons of carbon emissions.

“There is growing demand for self-consumption solar power generation among companies aiming for carbon neutrality,” noted an official from HD Hyundai Energy Solutions. “By introducing the emergency shutdown systems that were mandated in the United States and Europe, we aim to meet market demands and strengthen our position as a provider of integrated solar power solutions.”

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]