HOLLIS, Maine–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Primo Brands, together with Onyx Renewables and PowerFlex, today announced the energization of a new 13-megawatt DC onsite solar project at Primo Brands’ bottling facility for Poland Spring in Hollis, Maine. The ground-mounted solar array is expected to generate more than 18 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, reducing the facility’s carbon footprint while providing long-term cost predictability.
Located adjacent to Primo Brands’ Hollis facility, the fully behind-the-meter system was developed, engineered and constructed by PowerFlex and is financed, owned, and operated by Onyx under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). The project is designed so that the majority of the solar energy produced is consumed directly on site.
“At Primo Brands, water is our business, and being good stewards of natural resources is core to who we are,” says Charles Fogg, Chief Sustainability Officer, Primo Brands. “That means thinking carefully about how we use resources like energy and how we operate for the long-term within communities. Powering our facility in Hollis, Maine with renewable energy reduces our reliance on traditional energy sources, helps us reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and supports our local community in Hollis.”
A Flagship Distributed Generation Project in Maine
The Hollis solar system is designed as a non-export, behind-the-meter system to maximize onsite solar production.
The project showcases how large energy users can embrace distributed generation to manage long-term energy costs sustainably while supporting local infrastructure and jobs in their host communities.
The Hollis solar project reflects the increasing demand for larger onsite systems as commercial energy needs grow, and organizations seek to reliably hedge against rising energy costs.
“Projects like this represent the shift to a new power paradigm where businesses can take control of their energy future,” said Patty Rollin, Chief Commercial Officer of Onyx Renewables. “By adopting onsite solar, Primo Brands gains cost predictability and reliable clean power. At Onyx, we make sure these solutions fit seamlessly into our partners’ operations, and we’re proud to work alongside PowerFlex to deliver a system that supports Primo Brands’ sustainability goals while strengthening energy resilience.”
Operational Benefits for Primo Brands
Under the PPA structure, Onyx owns and operates the solar system while Primo Brands purchases the clean energy generated at a predictable rate for the long term. This provides Primo with budget certainty relative to conventional grid electricity.
Key expected benefits include:
- Operational efficiency: The behind-the-meter configuration is engineered to support the facility’s energy needs with a highly efficient, non-export design, helping manage site load and mitigate exposure to future grid price volatility.
- Carbon emissions reductions: The system is expected to generate over 18 million kWh of clean electricity annually, equivalent to avoiding over 7,500 metric tons of CO₂ each year.
A Strategic Partnership Between Onyx and PowerFlex
PowerFlex served as the development and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner on the project, managing the multi-year development, interconnection, and permitting process; engineering the system; negotiating the PPA; and overseeing procurement and construction.
Onyx provided project financing and will serve as the long-term system owner and operator, delivering ongoing asset management and maintenance services for the life of the project.
“Projects like Hollis succeed when each partner brings deep specialization. PowerFlex develops and builds high-performance onsite solar, and Onyx provides the underwriting and long-term commitment that makes a project like this possible—together delivering clean, cost-predictable power for Primo Brands,” said Nate McMurry, Chief Commercial Officer at PowerFlex. “At roughly 13 megawatts-DC, Hollis is a large onsite solar system by commercial standards. We’re seeing growing demand for projects at this scale as companies look to reduce emissions, manage energy costs, and invest in resilient, distributed energy solutions.”
Positive Impact for Hollis and the Local Community
Beyond the financial and environmental benefits for Primo Brands, the project also supports the Town of Hollis and surrounding communities.
“It’s a win-win… Primo Brands brings a clear, fresh water to the community… the solar panels are clean energy,” said Richard Morin, Town Manager, Town of Hollis. “It’s a great partnership… serving both the town and its tax base because there’s a revenue stream… and also because it lessens the impact of cost of energy for the company.”
About Primo Brands
Primo Brands is a leading North American branded beverage company focused on healthy hydration, delivering responsibly sourced diversified offerings across products, formats, channels, price points, and consumer occasions, distributed throughout the United States and Canada.
Primo Brands has a comprehensive portfolio of highly recognizable and conveniently packaged branded water and beverages that reach consumers whenever, wherever, and however they hydrate through distribution across retail outlets, away from home such as hotels and hospitals, and food service accounts, as well as direct delivery to homes and businesses. These brands include established “billion-dollar brands” Poland Spring® and Pure Life®, premium brands like Saratoga® and Mountain Valley®, regional leaders such as Arrowhead®, Deer Park®, Ice Mountain®, Ozarka®, and Zephyrhills®, purified brands including Primo Water® and Sparkletts®, and flavored and enhanced brands like Splash Refresher™ and AC+ION®. Primo Brands also has an industry-leading line-up of innovative water dispensers, which create consumer connectivity through recurring water purchases.
Primo Brands operates a vertically integrated coast-to-coast network that distributes its brands to more than 200,000 retail outlets, as well as directly reaching consumers through its Direct Delivery, Exchange and Refill offerings. Through Direct Delivery, Primo Brands delivers responsibly sourced hydration solutions direct to home and business customers. Through its Exchange business, consumers can visit approximately 26,500 retail locations and purchase a pre-filled, multi-use bottle of water that can be exchanged after use for a discount on the next purchase. Through its Refill business, consumers have the option to refill empty multi-use bottles at approximately 23,500 self-service refill stations. Primo Brands also offers water filtration units for home and business customers across North America.
Primo Brands is a leader in reusable beverage packaging, helping to reduce waste through its multi-serve bottles and innovative brand packaging portfolio, which includes recycled plastic, aluminum, and glass. Primo Brands has a portfolio of more than 80 springs and actively manages water resources to help assure a steady supply of quality, safe drinking water today and in the future. Primo Brands also helps conserve over 28,000 acres of land across the U.S. and Canada. Primo Brands is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (“IBWA”) in North America, which supports strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection. Primo Brands is committed to supporting the communities it serves, investing in local and national programs and delivering hydration solutions following natural disasters and other local community challenges.
Primo Brands employs more than 13,000 associates with dual headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and Stamford, Connecticut.
For more information, please visit www. primobrands.com.
About Onyx Renewables
Onyx Renewables is a leading provider of predictable, affordable clean energy solutions nationwide. With more than 400 projects completed and over a decade of experience, Onyx partners with commercial, industrial, real estate, and public sector clients to deliver onsite clean energy solutions that enable cost predictability, cost savings, and energy reliability. From customized design and financing to construction and long-term operations, Onyx is building the bridge from today’s clean energy reality to tomorrow’s possibilities with best-in-class quality solutions that empower businesses and communities. Learn more at https://www.onyxrenewables.com or visit our LinkedIn.
About PowerFlex
PowerFlex is a clean technology solutions company making the transformation to carbon-free electrification and transportation possible. Our adaptive energy optimization platform PowerFlex X™ monitors, controls, and co-optimizes onsite assets like EV chargers, solar, energy storage, and microgrids — reducing overall energy costs through patented algorithms that maximize distributed energy resources.
PowerFlex is the second-largest installer of commercial solar in the United States, with over 500 megawatts (MW) of total solar capacity plus 50+ megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage. Combined, our solar and energy storage projects offset 460,000 metric tons of CO2 each year. We also manage more than 50,000 EV chargers nationwide, making us the second-largest EV charging provider in the U.S. in terms of Level 2 port management.
PowerFlex is backed by EDF power solutions and Manulife Investments.
Visit powerflex.com for more information, and connect with us on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Contacts
Media Contacts
Primo Brands
Eileen Leonardo
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
+1 617 680 3085
Onyx Renewables
Jenna Leitgeb
Director, Marketing & Communications
[email protected]
646-536-3316
PowerFlex
Annie Gala
Director, Marketing
[email protected]
