Airgas Air Separation Unit in Cleburne, Texas Adds Wind Energy to Power Mix

April 14, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

RADNOR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Airgas, an Air Liquide company, is purchasing wind power for an Air Separation Unit (ASU) in Cleburne, Texas, outside of Dallas, making it the first Airgas primary production unit to be powered with an energy mix that includes locally sourced renewable energy. The ASU produces liquid argon, nitrogen and oxygen and will run on wind power mixed with other energy sources, cutting the overall carbon footprint by an estimated 15,840 metric tons per year. This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions associated with the electricity used by approximately 3,000 U.S. homes every year.

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Airgas began receiving wind power at the Cleburne plant in November from a nearby subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. Airgas is leveraging around 20 percent of the renewable wind electricity purchased through an Air Liquide Power Purchase Agreement announced in and planned for since 2018.

In addition to the renewable energy purchased for the Cleburne plant, Airgas is continuing to evaluate new local renewable energy sources for other ASUs in other markets as well. Airgas purchases unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) – certifying megawatt hours of electricity generated and delivered to the grid from a renewable energy source – for Air Separation Units operating across the United States.

Airgas will continue to increase its renewable energy mix for primary production units in contribution to Air Liquide Group efforts to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2 emissions by 33 percent by 2035 on the path to carbon neutrality by 2050.

Marcelo Fioranelli, CEO, commented: "Airgas is very proud to be using new renewable energy sources to run our Air Separation Units, whether from local sources where available like Cleburne, Texas, or through Renewable Energy Certificates. We are reducing our carbon footprint at an accelerated pace and pushing forward to help our customers environmentally optimize their own processes."

Airgas, Inc.

Airgas®, an Air Liquide company, is a leading U.S. supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases, as well as hardgoods and related products; one of the largest U.S. suppliers of safety products; and a leading U.S. supplier of ammonia products and process chemicals.

Dedicated to improving the performance of its more than 1 million customers, Airgas safely and reliably provides products, services and expertise through its more than 18,000 associates, over 1,400 locations, robust e-Business platform, and Airgas Total Access® telesales channel.

As an Air Liquide company, a world leader in gases, technology and services for Industry and Health, Airgas offers customers an unrivaled global footprint and industry-leading technology and innovations.

For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 75 countries with approximately 66,400 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability - with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquide's revenue amounted to more than 23 billion euros in 2021. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.