Global specialty chemicals company Nouryon has begun generating solar power at its manufacturing plant in Morris, Illinois, marking the company’s first solar project in the United States.
Developed with local energy provider Convergent Energy and Power, the installation sends electricity directly to the Morris facility and is expected to produce about 3,400 megawatt-hours of power annually. That will cover roughly 10% of the plant’s electricity demand while avoiding an estimated 1,152 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
"Every project like Morris moves us closer to our goal of running more plants on electricity from renewable and low-carbon sources," said Eduardo Nardinelli, senior vice president, South America and carbon business strategy at Nouryon. "It is a practical and responsible step toward achieving the greenhouse gas emission reduction target we have committed to for 2030 and beyond."
The project also marks a milestone for the Morris workforce and the local community, according to Brandon Sieve, site manager at Nouryon’s Morris plant.
"This is a proud day for everyone in our Morris facility," said Brandon Sieve, site manager at Nouryon’s Morris plant. "The people who work here keep this plant running every day, and now they are doing it with cleaner electricity. That’s good for our employees, our neighbors and this community."
The Morris facility produces ingredients used in everyday products, including cleaning and personal care products as well as crop protection solutions.
The solar installation adds to Nouryon’s growing portfolio of on-site renewable energy projects. Recent projects have come online in Mons, Belgium; Singapore; and Guangzhou, China, with additional projects planned for Fort Worth and Houston, Texas, and Asa, Japan.
Renewable sources accounted for 54% of Nouryon’s total global electricity consumption in 2025. The company aims to cut its absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, compared with a 2019 baseline.
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