AstraZeneca’s Sustainable Improvements Saved Their Facility $1,000,000

Maryland, November 5, 2020 –– AstraZeneca, a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development of life-saving medicines, has a strong commitment to sustainability and the environment. Recently, their team was recognized by Potomac Edison's Energy Solutions Program with a $1,000,000 check for their achievements in energy efficiency, sustainability and one huge step toward their goal of reaching zero carbon emission in their global operations by 2025.

When the company chose to repurpose a solar panel manufacturer’s building for production in Frederick, they quickly identified a need to improve the existing chilled water infrastructure of their manufacturing facility. Through past participation with a Potomac Edison Energy Advisor, the team knew that Potomac Edison could help them achieve their energy efficiency goals with expert technical guidance and save them money with incentives.

Due to the outdated set up of the chilled water infrastructure, there was a significant opportunity to reduce energy waste and improve efficiency by installing centralized ground-level cooling towers and a consolidated chilled-water plant. After a complete energy assessment, the team also saw a need to upgrade the building’s cooling system to save energy and keep the space more comfortable.

Working with Potomac Edison’s Energy Solutions for Business Program, AstraZeneca received proactive technical support alongside $1,000,000 in incentives to help offset the costs of the team’s ambitious project. For AstraZeneca, whose investment totaled $20 million and created jobs for Maryland-based contractors, the savings were a welcome addition to the economic and sustainability benefits of their total project.

When all was said and done, the energy efficiency improvements will save AstraZeneca over $500,000 every year in energy use and reduce their CO2 emissions by 5,222 tons, which is enough to power 547 average Maryland homes for an entire year.

“Through hard work and ingenuity from the team at the AstraZeneca Frederick site and with incentives from Potomac Edison, we were able to implement important site improvements and make a significant contribution toward our sustainability goals,” said René Barcala, Sr. Engineer in Facilities, “It’s a win-win for our company and the environment.”