Piana Technology, the 442-year-old Italian-made textile company, has offset energy consumption at its nonwovens plant in Cartersville, Georgia, by 100% via an expanded solar panel system making it possible for the plant to operate at net zero energy.

The expanded photovoltaic (PV) system became operational in December following two upgrades, enabling electricity grid consumption to be completely offset. Any solar overproduction is fed back into the city’s grid, contributing to local energy supply. The two expanded systems add an extra 1,244,564 kWh per year, enabling the company to avoid generating 920 tons of CO2 emissions per year –  equivalent to the carbon sequestration of 250 acres of trees.

Piana Technology collaborated with Southern View Energy, a local solar electrical design and installation company, to bring the project to fruition.

“This is an exciting milestone for our ongoing sustainability goals, and it will set a new high bar for all of our manufacturing facilities,” said Andrea Piana, CEO of Piana Technology. “We know we’re creating a blueprint for other companies and manufacturers to follow. This is the future. You can do it better and do it greener.”

Piana can trace its roots in the textile industry back to 1582 in Biella, Italy, and opened its first American factory in Cartersville in 1995. Today, Piana Technology is a multinational company addressing common problems with unique solutions in nonwovens, digital printing and fibre treatments.

www.piana.tech