Hyundai Motor Reveals Solar-Powered Plant in the United States

Hyundai Motor Group is making strides towards a greener future by committing to power its U.S. electric vehicle-exclusive plant entirely with solar energy. This move is part of the conglomerate’s efforts to increase renewable energy usage and accelerate its journey towards carbon neutrality.

The automotive group recently signed a 15-year power purchase agreement with Spanish renewable energy developer Matrix Renewables for a solar project that will supply Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA)’s plant in Georgia. This plant, set to be fully operational by October 2024, will rely on renewable energy from Matrix Renewables from 2025 to 2040. This deal marks the largest procurement of renewable energy by a South Korean company for its U.S. facilities.

By transitioning the Georgia plant to renewable energy, Hyundai Motor Group expects to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 140,000 tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from 84,000 mid-sized sedans per year. This aligns with the group’s goal to operate fully on renewable energy by 2040 to 2045 under the “RE100” campaign.

The solar project that will supply power to HMGMA’s Georgia plant is a 210-megawatt facility in Texas, being built by Matrix Renewables and set to start commercial operations in October 2025. Hyundai Motor Group will secure 147MW from this facility, representing 70 percent of Matrix Renewables’ total capacity.

This contract is a collaborative effort involving various Hyundai Motor Group entities, enabling cost savings compared to individual procurement of renewable energy. The conglomerate plans to further accelerate its transition to renewable energy through integrated procurement and long-term contracts, with a focus on its global production hubs. Hyundai Motor’s factories in the Czech Republic and Indonesia are already fully reliant on renewable energy, thanks to previous investments in Renewable Energy Certificates (REC).

With more investments and contracts for renewable energy conversion planned for its U.S. facilities, Hyundai Motor Group is taking significant steps towards a sustainable future.