A Colorado cement plant is adding on-site solar and energy storage systems to help decarbonize its production process.

TotalEnergies will develop, own, and operate the 33 MWdc ground-mounted solar array and 38.5 MWh battery energy storage system at Holcim’s cement plant in Florence.

The project’s solar array will use single-axis solar trackers that follow the sun’s movement through the day and bifacial solar panels that generate power on both the front and back sides.

The energy storage system aims to reduce the factory’s impact on the local utility grid, particularly during on-peak periods when regional demand for electricity is high.

The solar+storage system is expected to reduce the plant’s carbon emissions by more than 40,000 tons annually and offset 40% of its current energy demand. Holcim will receive roughly 71,000 MWh of clean power from the project per year under a Power Purchase and Storage Services Agreement with a minimum term of 15 years.

Operations of the renewable energy system are expected to begin in 2025.