WORCESTER, Mass. — Saint-Gobain has started up operations at its new electrical powerhouse on its flagship manufacturing campus in Worcester, Mass., which is projected to reduce the site’s carbon dioxide emissions by 50%.

The $22.3 million investment in upgraded equipment comes as the company continues to roll out its global Grow and Impact strategy, which includes striving towards carbon neutrality by the year 2050. Saint-Gobain employs 1,000 people at its Worcester campus, which opened in 1885.

The new powerhouse will rely on a state-of-the-art natural gas turbine to produce electricity, which will be distributed across the manufacturing campus. A portion of the turbine’s exhaust gas will be captured and re-used to reduce emissions and further improve the powerhouse’s efficiency. The new equipment replaces a steam-powered turbine that was installed in the 1950s.

The powerhouse will be connected to the site’s local electrical grid, allowing the turbine to also potentially provide electricity to nearby residential neighborhoods in case of a power outage or natural disaster.

“Our new power generation equipment is a strategic investment in the future of our operations in Worcester, and a significant stride forward towards our global sustainability goals,” said Patrick Dwyer, vice president for Saint-Gobain Abrasives North America. “We will continue to push ourselves to maximize our company’s positive impact, for our customers and the communities where we do business, while striving to minimize our environmental footprint.”

In Worcester, Saint-Gobain manufactures grinding and cutting wheels for many different markets, ranging from industrial uses such as automotive and aerospace to electronic and medical applications and consumer applications. The company is currently looking to hire 50 new employees in its manufacturing operations.