DAYTON, Ohio – Solvita is honoring its name and its commitment to healing, innovation, and sustainability with “Project Sol Array,” the construction of a large-scale solar panel installation at Solvita Kettering Research Park that will help power tissue graft manufacturing and further the company’s growth.
Solvita is partnering with IGS Solar, a division of central Ohio-based IGS Energy. IGS will build, own and operate the 1.5 megawatt solar array on Solvita’s KRP property with no upfront cost to Solvita. IGS will sell all the electricity the system produces to Solvita under a long-term power purchase agreement.
One year ago, the blood and tissue centers announced its new name “Solvita” and the retirement of its original name Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services.
“We remind everyone that ‘Sol’ in our name means ‘sun’ and “vita’ means ‘life,’” said Solvita CEO Christopher Graham. “We are using the sun as part of our long-term strategy to manage our use and expense of energy and demonstrate our commitment to helping solve problems and improving our world.”
Solvita will become the first major tissue bank in the world to use a solar array to power a portion of its operations.
“The solar panels will generate nearly two million kilowatt hours per year, enough to power almost 200 homes,” said Graham. “That’s a lot of energy we can produce right here, and more sustainably, for decades to come.”
“This marks the beginning of a journey towards a brighter, more sustainable future,” said Patrick Smith, VP of Business Development for IGS Solar. “As we kick off this solar project, we’re not just installing panels—we’re partnering with Solvita to use renewable energy to make a lasting impact on our environment. Together, we’re turning vision into action and paving the way for cleaner energy solutions.”
Graham said he expects Project Sol Array to be generating useful power by late 2025.
Solvita currently has 1,240 employees and expects to add new jobs at its Kettering facilities.