NUUK, Greenland (AP) — The remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, which Vice President JD Vance is visiting on Friday, is the U.S. Department of Defense's northernmost installation.
The base was built following a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the United States. It supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.
The Pituffik base is located on the northwestern coast of Greenland, about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) north of the the Arctic Circle and 1,524 kilometers (947 miles) south of the North Pole. It is about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) north of Greenland's capital, Nuuk.
It was known as the Thule Air Base until 2023, when it was renamed to recognize Greenlandic cultural heritage and reflect its role in the relatively new U.S. Space Force.
The base is locked in by ice for nine months of the year, but its airfield remains open all year round. It is in constant darkness from November to February and constant daylight from May to August.
It is operated by the 821st Space Base Group and is also home to the world's northernmost deepwater sea port. The nearest town is Qaanaaq, around 120 kilometers (75 miles) to the northwest.
FILE - Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in northern Greenland on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, file)
FILE - Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in northern Greenland on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, file)
FILE - Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in northern Greenland on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, file)
WEITERSTADT, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 7, 2025--
POLYVANTIS announces the commissioning of approximately 3.3 GWh of solar energy for its Weiterstadt, Germany, manufacturing location. The company will reduce its carbon (CO₂) footprint by 750 metric tons annually through the implementation of solar energy. This savings is equivalent to the energy required to run over 900 households*.
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Innovating for Sustainable Improvement
"The installation of the solar park is an important step toward a resource-efficient future and underscores our commitment to innovating for the future," says Reinhard Tag, EVP of Manufacturing for POLYVANTIS. "Through utilizing state-of-the-art methods such as solar energy, we are creating a future that promotes sustainable practices for our manufacturing operations."
Efficient Use and Sustainable Energy Generation
The state-of-the-art solar plant is located on POLYVANTIS grounds and has an installed capacity of 3.6 MW and an expected annual energy production of approximately 3.3 GWh, making a significant contribution to sustainable electricity supply. Approximately 10% of the whole electric power consumption of the Weiterstadt site will be replaced with energy from the solar park.
Outlook on Future Projects
The commissioning of this plant marks another milestone in POLYVANTIS's sustainable strategy. Future projects are planned to continue expanding renewable energy sources.
*Source: German Federal Network Agency for electricity, gas, telecommunications, Post and Railways
About POLYVANTIS
POLYVANTIS is a global, multi-material player with some of the most coveted and iconic brands in the industry – such as PLEXIGLAS® and ACRYLITE® for polymethylmethacrylate semi-finished products and LEXAN™ for polycarbonate sheets and films. With 1,500 employees and 15 production sites worldwide, POLYVANTIS offers unmatched global capabilities, providing customers with innovative solutions in sheets and films for the building and construction, electrical and electronics, automotive, air and rail, healthcare and security, and lighting and signage markets. To learn more about the latest at POLYVANTIS, follow us on LinkedIn or our website.
Photo of solar panels alongside POLYVANTIS facility in Weiterstadt, Germany
