Orsted in the US has signed a power purchase agreement with pharmaceutical company Merck (MSD), for output from the 200MW Armadillo Solar Center in Texas.
The Armadillo Solar Center is expected to be operational in early 2023, which is located in Navarro County.
The photovoltaic plant will use over 600,000 solar panels mounted in single-axis tracker arrays.
Orsted onshore chief commercial officer Vishal Kapadia said: “We’re happy to partner with MSD and expand our customer base to the pharmaceutical industry.
“It’s exciting to join forces with them in their efforts to advance the use of carbon-free energy in the medical industry.”
MSD chief procurement officer Susanna Webber added: “This contract is an important step in MSD meeting its commitment to sustainability by bringing carbon-free energy to the grid in Texas and reducing the environmental impact of our operations.
“As a human and animal health company, we see our renewable energy strategy as fully integrated with MSD’s mission to save and improve lives.”
The Armadillo Solar Center will create at least 200 jobs during construction and will require ongoing support for operations and maintenance, Orsted said.