New Solar Panels at Merck’s Wisconsin, USA Site Add Renewable Energy to Power Grid

News Release

• 7,000 solar panels produce energy to power 700 homes
• Part of We Energies’ “Solar Now” program, bringing more renewable energy to Wisconsin
• Reinforces company’s long-term commitment to renewable energy

Darmstadt, Germany, July 19, 2022 – The Life Science business of Merck, a leading science and technology company, adds 2.25 megawatts to the grid with 7,000 solar panels at its Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA site, which are now fully installed. The project is part of a 30-year land leasing agreement with We Energies, the electric service company for the region.

“This is the longest renewable energy contract in company history,” said Jeffrey Whitford, Head of Sustainability and Social Business Innovation for the Life Science business of Merck. “It reinforces our commitment to bringing more renewable energy to the grid with long-term contracts as part of our broader sustainability strategy to reduce resource consumption.”

As part of its “Solar Now” program, We Energies has now fully installed 7,000 solar panels across approximately 11 acres of land on Merck’s Sheboygan campus. The solar panels can produce enough energy to power nearly 700 homes. The company will receive approximately 4,000 renewable energy certificates produced by the panels per year, which match 16% of the Sheboygan site’s energy consumption.

The solar energy project in Sheboygan directly supports the company in achieving its goal of becoming climate neutral by 2040, in line with its sustainability strategy. By 2030, Merck aims to cover 80% of its electricity with renewables, and reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 50% compared to a 2020 baseline.

The announcement of the completed solar energy project follows Merck’s recent ground-breaking of the first lateral flow membrane production facility in the United States. The facility, built at the Sheboygan site, will manufacture the company’s Hi-Flow™ Plus lateral flow membrane used in rapid diagnostic test kit manufacturing, including those for Covid-19.

For more information about the Life Science business of Merck’s commitment to expanding its renewable energy portfolio both on- and off-site, as well as additional efforts to support and advance the renewable energy industry, click here.