Solar Arrays Deliver Energy And Reduce Emissions At Bendix Manufacturing Operation In Acuña, Mexico

Two solar arrays, one each at Bendix Acuña plants 1 and 2 (plant 1 is shown in the photo), went online at the end of 2022. Photo Courtesy of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC

Atop two Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems (Bendix) plants in Acuña, Mexico, a pair of solar arrays convert sunlight into electricity, capable of producing more than 2.1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy annually for the manufacturing operation. The arrays consist of nearly 2,600 photovoltaic panels that generate about 11% of each plant’s required energy and will reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 850 tons per year (about 13%), decreasing reliance on the local power grid and reducing Bendix’s carbon footprint in pursuit of sustainability.

The $1 million project is also the first solar installation of its kind among the region’s manufacturers. A recent ribbon-cutting event commemorated the solar array, which came online on December 15, 2022.

The 2.1 million kWh of electricity produced annually is about the same amount of energy needed to power 100 homes for a full year. And the 850-ton yearly reduction of CO₂ is roughly equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 2 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

“Since the release of our ‘Climate Strategy 2030,’ we have put an intense focus on cutting carbon dioxide emissions in our largest manufacturing campus, located in Acuña, Mexico,” Bill Schubert, Bendix director, environmental and sustainability, said. “These solar panels are among several climate action projects furthering that goal.”

Bendix designs, develops, and manufactures active safety, air management, and braking solutions for commercial vehicles, and is a subsidiary of Munich, Germany-based Knorr-Bremse. The Acuña arrays are the company’s second solar installation, following one completed in Huntington, IN, in 2021. Visit bendix.com.