Sealed Air in Madera installed a $9 million solar system that will provide 98% of the energy needed for manufacturing Bubble Wrap. Photos contributed by Sealed Air.

A $9 million clean-energy investment will provide nearly all the power demand for a Madera manufacturer of Bubble Wrap.

Sealed Air announced Tuesday the installation of 8,975 solar panels on 11 acres near its facility at 1835 W. Almond Ave. The solar farm will provide 98% of the energy for the 265,000 square-foot plant that manufactures the popular cushioned packaging material.

Charlotte, North Carolina-based Sealed Air — traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SEE — expects the system will reduce energy costs by $1 million per year.

 

“The installation of these solar panels contributes to SEE’s overarching sustainability strategy and advances our transition to net-zero carbon emissions in our operations by 2040,” said Emile Chammas, Sealed Air’s chief operating officer.

https://www.facebook.com/SealedAirCorp/videos/see-invests-in-renewable-energy/2963247967307497/

French firm TotalEnergies designed and installed the 3.5-megawatt project that included a battery storage system. TotalEnergies recently acquired San Jose-based SunPower’s commercial and industrial division.

In the first year, the solar project will avert the creation of 4,982 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 72,172 metric tons of carbon dioxide over 15 years, according to the release. That amounts to roughly the annual electricity use of 14,000 homes.

Sealed Air generated $5.5 billion in sales in 2021 and has approximately 16,500 employees in 114 countries.