Largest Direct-Use Solar Array in the U.S. Being Built at an Oil Refinery

Flint Hills Resources, a Minnesota oil refinery company, is constructing the largest direct-use solar power project in the United States at it’s Pine Bend refinery.

The 45 MW solar installation will connect directly to the refinery operations and provide approximately 30% of the facility’s power needs during optimal conditions. The project is expected to cost $75 million and will be completed by DEPCOM Power, a Koch Engineered Solutions company.

The solar project will be Flint Hills Resources’ second source of on-site power generation, following its Combined Heat and Power system.

The Pine Bend refinery has reduced traditional criteria emissions by 70% since 2000 and greenhouse gases by approximately 10% relative to production since 2010, making it one of the most efficient refineries in the US.