Alstom Installs Solar Panels at Sahagun Plant in Mexico

Alstom has installed a photovoltaic system at its manufacturing facility in Ciudad Sahagun, Hidalgo, as part of its strategy to decarbonize operations and reduce emissions across its global supply chain. The facility, which is the company’s largest in the Americas and third largest worldwide, now hosts 1,080 solar panels covering more than 15,000m2. The system will generate 1,220MWh of electricity annually, equivalent to 16.8% of the plant’s energy consumption. Its installed capacity is 583KWh.

This is the first installation of its kind at any Alstom facility in the Americas. It forms part of a broader effort by the company to convert its sites to renewable energy and reduce direct and indirect CO2 emissions by 40% compared to fiscal year 2021-2022. To date, Alstom has installed solar panels at 12 locations globally and plans to expand the program.

The installation in Sahagun is being operated under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Iberdrola México, whose Smart Solar service will manage the system for 20 years. Alstom will consume all the energy generated. The company estimates that the solar installation will reduce emissions by 0.43t of CO₂ per MWh.

Maite Ramos, Managing Director, Alstom Mexico, said the project strengthens the company's sustainability objectives and reinforces its commitment to low-emissions mobility. Katya Somohano, CEO, Iberdrola México, highlighted the role of onsite photovoltaic systems in helping companies reduce their environmental impact and energy costs.

With nearly 500,000m2 of industrial space, the Sahagún plant has produced more than 4,000 metro and light rail cars, as well as 2,000 diesel and electric locomotives for Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. The site is currently manufacturing trains for the federal government’s Tren Maya project.

In addition to supplying more than 70% of Mexico’s rail vehicles, the facility also builds components and subassemblies for international markets including New York, Toronto, Edmonton, Beijing, Riyadh, and Kuala Lumpur.