About Solutia, Newport
Solutia Inc. is a market-leading performance materials and specialty chemicals company. The company has international headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and operates globally with approximately 3,000 employees in more than 60 locations.
The plant in Newport, Wales engages 164 staff in the production of a wide range of high-performance products for specialized applications, many of Solutia’s products are also used in everyday items such as washing powders, floor coverings and windscreens.
The Newport site covers 311 acres, of which 100 is used for chemical manufacturing.
In 2007 the company spent £1.7million on environmental monitoring and management, waste disposal projects, effluent handling and treatment.
About the project
Planning permission was granted by the Newport planning committee to build a pair of 2.5 megawatt wind turbines, each 120-130 m high at the Solutia Newport site. The turbines completed their testing phase in December 2009 and are now operational.
The wind project will supply Solutia with one of its major utilities, and is expected to generate a third of the site's annual average electricity usage.
The project complements Newport’s efforts to drive down brown energy consumption and costs and will significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
Keith Agnew, Energy Manager for Solutia UK, said:
"The wind turbines present us with a long-term opportunity to reduce Solutia's carbon footprint. They underline our commitment to sustainability and the environment."
