DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee Marks Months of Solar Energy Generation

PR Newswire

Collaboration with Solarity helps power operations, advance DENSO sustainability goals

ATHENS, Tenn., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DENSO, a leading mobility supplier, is today announcing the establishment and months of successful operation of a new solar energy facility at DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee, Inc. (DMAT).

DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee's new solar facility contributes to the company's sustainability goals.

The project is made possible through close collaboration with renewable energy company Solarity, with support from clean energy project platform GridMarket, the Athens Utilities Board and Tennessee Valley Authority.

Launched in May, the 18.8-acre facility located on the north side of DENSO’s property has already been producing renewable energy for DMAT operations and contributing to DENSO’s broader sustainability goals. The activity expands DENSO’s alternative energy portfolio and adds to the various approaches it takes to accelerate onsite green energy deployments, including a mix of independent and collaborative projects.

“At DMAT, we’re always looking for ways to strengthen our operations while being responsible environmental stewards in the Athens community,” said Mark Moses, president of DMAT. “This project demonstrates how manufacturing and sustainability can work hand in hand. We’re proud to generate renewable energy onsite and are grateful to all our partners for helping bring this project to life.”

The facility features more than 10,000 solar modules and operates at a nameplate capacity of 5.25 megawatt alternating current (MWac), making it one of DENSO’s largest onsite renewable energy installations in North America. The system is expected to generate enough renewable electricity each year to offset nearly 14% of DMAT’s annual power consumption.

“We’re proud to strengthen our long-term partnerships with DENSO by delivering tailored, high-impact energy solutions for global manufacturers,” said Yael Avner, CEO at Solarity. “This project highlights our ability to align technical and financial innovation at scale.”

Through August, the facility has generated more than 3,200 MWh of electricity, enough to power approximately 300 average U.S. households for a year, and offset an estimated 1,125 metric tons of carbon emissions.

“Projects like this are an important part of DENSO’s approach to sustainability across North America,” said Jon Ruge, Vice President, North America Safety, Health and Environment at DENSO. “The results at DMAT show how renewable energy investments can support our environmental goals as we develop leading products and help build a more sustainable future for our company and our communities.”

The Athens project is one of several green energy initiatives supporting DENSO’s sustainability efforts in North America. These include the successful 2025 launch of a solar facility at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc., located in Maryville, not far from Athens. Through renewable energy partnerships and other clean energy investments, DENSO continues to expand the use of renewable electricity and reduce emissions across its operations.

These investments support DENSO’s Green great cause – the company’s goal to be carbon neutral through its products, processes and facilities by 2035. It also complements DENSO’s Peace of Mind great cause – efforts to build safer, more seamless mobility to achieve zero traffic fatalities and a worry-free society. Both help the company pursue its mission of contributing to a better world.

About DENSO
Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a 7,540.0 billion yen (US$47.2 billion) leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 170 facilities worldwide to provide opportunities for rewarding careers and to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company’s 155,000 global employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 9.2 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. For more information about DENSO’s operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global.

In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 23,000+ team members across more than 40 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, DENSO in North America generated $12.7 billion in consolidated sales. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/. 

About Solarity
Solarity is a Houston, Texas-based solar energy developer and EPC contractor serving commercial, industrial and institutional customers across the United States. The company develops, engineers, builds and owns behind-the-meter solar projects, delivering long-term power purchase agreements that support customers’ energy and sustainability goals. For more information, visit www.SolarityUSA.com.

DENSO is a leading mobility supplier, contributing to a greener and safer world.

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