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 about 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 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 and helps us reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
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 jobs.
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 about 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,” saidNate McMurry, Chief Commercial Officer at PowerFlex. “At 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 the State of Maine
Beyond the financial and environmental benefits for Primo Brands, the project helps to advance Maine’s progress towards realizing its goal of 80% clean electricity supply by 2030 and 100% by 2040. The project highlights Primo Brands’ commitment to sustainability and supporting Maine’s energy transition.
“It’s a win-win. Primo Brands brings clean, fresh water to the community… the solar panels are clean energy,” said Richard Morin, Town Manager, Town of Hollis. “It’s a great partnership.”
