At its Normal, Illinois, facility, Rivian has installed a 2.8 MW wind turbine that, when combined with solar power, will provide clean energy for charging every new electric vehicle.
Although Charlottesville, Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy started building the wind turbine in May, Rivian revealed it would install the device in June 2022. Now that it’s operational, it can produce almost 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, sufficient to power 890 typical U.S. homes.
Throughout its 25-year lifespan, the EV maker projects that the turbine project will prevent about 177,000 tons of CO2 emissions or the equivalent of taking nearly 34,000 ICE cars off the road annually.
The wind turbine is a part of the 783-kilowatt solar canopy that Rivian installed at the plant last year. Every EV that rolls off the line at the Normal plant will now receive its first charge using 100% clean energy due to the solar canopy and wind turbine combined.
In its online statement, Rivian said, “Enabling every vehicle to receive its initial charge from on-site renewable energy is a significant step toward our goal of offering access to 100% renewable energy for every mile.”
Tim Fallon, Rivian’s VP of Manufacturing Operations, stated, “This turbine represents the promise we’ve made to our customers — that we’re not only making the best vehicles in the world, but we’re helping to move the automotive industry toward a sustainable course.”
