Flint Hills Resources announced plans to build its second company-owned solar installation to power its U.S. refinery operations. The new solar farm will supply electricity to the Corpus Christi West refinery, which produces jet fuel, ultra-low sulfur diesel, gasoline, and chemical building blocks.
Large-Scale Solar Integration
The project will be the second-largest utility-scale solar complex in the Corpus Christi area. It is also the first solar project in Texas to provide on-site, self-generated electricity directly to an oil refinery. Under optimal conditions, the solar installation will meet nearly one-third of the refinery’s power needs.
“We continue to improve our refinery operations and progress toward being the best in the industry,” said Jeff Ramsey, President and CEO of Flint Hills Resources. “We are proving that large-scale solar can integrate into industrial facilities, lowering costs while maintaining reliability and improving environmental performance.”
Solar Project Specifications
The 27-megawatt solar installation will feature approximately 56,700 panels. Located on 100 acres of the company’s property off Interstate Highway 37, it aims to lower annual energy costs, improve efficiency, and reduce grid emissions. This solar energy investment is estimated to cost $53 million and will be built by DEPCOM Power, a subsidiary of Koch Companies, LLC.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
The solar installation will generate enough electricity to power over 5,100 homes per year and cover roughly 28% of the refinery’s power needs. The refinery also operates a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system, producing about 30 megawatts of electricity. Together, the CHP and solar installations could satisfy up to 60% of the refinery’s daily power requirements.
“This project integrates solar into a large refinery complex, reliably and at lower costs than conventional power,” said John Schroeder, DEPCOM’s Executive Vice President of Distributed Energy. “This may be among the first projects of its kind in Texas, but it won’t be the last.”
Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Flint Hills Resources emphasizes responsible management of resources, prioritizing safety, environmental progress, and community contributions. The company continually seeks innovative ways to produce and deliver fuels and other products efficiently while minimizing waste and improving performance.
Since 2000, Flint Hills Resources’ Corpus Christi refineries have reduced air emissions by 70% and cut Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases by over 30% since 2010.
Source：prnewswire.com
