DENSO 'Flips the Switch' on Solar Facility at Tennessee Manufacturing Site with City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch, and TVA

DENSO, alongside the City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), has "flipped the switch" on a solar facility at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. (DMTN). In a ceremony today, the group officially launched operations of the 12.82-acre energy infrastructure project, kicking off its efforts to produce green energy for DENSO's operations and support the local power grid.

Powered by over 4,000 state-of-the art solar panels, the new facility is expected to produce up to approximately 3,400 MWh/year. The project partners broke ground on the solar farm in November 2022 and finished construction this summer.

Today marks the completion of the first of three solar energy production facilities the group plans to bring online in Blount County, Tennessee. Silicon Ranch projects the second facility to be online by December of 2025 and anticipates that the third will come online in the second quarter of 2026.

In addition to its role in the three solar projects in Blount County, DENSO will also source solar energy from a fourth Silicon Ranch facility elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley through TVA's Green Invest program. The TVA program offers business and industry a timely and cost-effective solution to meet their sustainability goals. When all facilities are completed, DENSO will leverage each, along with other conservation initiatives, to source all of DMTN's electrical needs from renewable energy sources.

This milestone comes as DENSO celebrates its 35th year of operations in Maryville.

"This activity shows how we don't only strive to be green through our products, but also through our operations and energy use," said Chuntao Ye, President of DMTN and Business Leader of the DENSO North America Peace of Mind Business Group. "We appreciate the City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch and TVA for sharing this commitment with us and look forward to continuing to work together to advance renewable energy in East Tennessee. This only builds upon our 35-year history of working with local partners to give back to our neighbors in Maryville and surrounding communities."

"Working with our community partners on these projects aligns with our mission to provide reliable, low-cost energy to the Valley region," said Ray Knotts, TVA Senior Director, Demand Management. "Flipping this switch in partnership with DENSO, the City of Maryville, and Silicon Ranch helps TVA meet growing electricity demand and diversifies our portfolio."

Headquartered in Nashville, Silicon Ranch is owner and operator of one of the nation's largest fleets of solar facilities and a community-focused energy infrastructure company. The company pioneered utility-scale solar in the Tennessee Valley and remains a market leader, working collaboratively with TVA and more than 50 local power companies (LPCs) across the region since 2011.

"Today's milestone demonstrates what is possible when a group of partners come together with a shared vision for how we can help our communities become stronger, healthier, and more resilient," said Matt Beasley, Chief Commercial Officer at Silicon Ranch."Silicon Ranch takes great pride in our Tennessee roots, and our colleague who led our development work here is a Maryville native whose family has been here for seven generations. Our company looks forward to a productive partnership with all of our project partners and is proud to join DENSO as the newest corporate citizen of Blount County."

The effort supports the City of Maryville's work with local partners to improve sustainability in the region.

"This solar energy asset is another example of the next-level innovation we've come to expect from our community's largest manufacturer and employer — DENSO," said City of Maryville Mayor Andy White. "Our partnership with TVA, DENSO, and Silicon Ranch in this effort, highlights our commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Providing quality utility infrastructure and affordable service to the residents, businesses, and industries we serve every day remains our top priority."

The project supports DENSO's Two Great Causes: Green and Peace of Mind. Through DENSO's Green cause, it aims to be carbon neutral by 2035.

To explore opportunities at a leading manufacturer committed to collaborative innovation for a greener and safer world, visit densocareers.com.

DENSO | https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/. 

Silicon Ranch | https://www.siliconranch.com/

City of Maryville | maryvillegov.com

Tennessee Valley Authority | https://www.tva.com/