Mercedes-Benz to Build 100 MW Wind Farm In Germany

Global auto conglomerate Mercedes-Benz has said that it will build a wind farm at its test track in Papenburg, Germany. The auto-maker held that the output of the wind farm will be more than 100 MW which will cover over 15 per cent of the annual electricity demand of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for the German operations.

The official statement of Mercedes-Benz held that as part of its effort to erect a double-digit number of wind turbines by the middle of the decade, it is also planning a long-term power purchase agreement with a partner, equivalent to a triple-digit million euros amount. The large-scale installation of photovoltaic systems on the test site is also under examination.

Mercedes-Benz said that the project plans and an ecological impact review will be carried out in close coordination with the local authorities and stakeholders. The approximately 800-hectare site has been an integral part of the company’s research and development activities since 1998.

Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production and Supply Chain Management, said, “The targeted expansion of renewable energies at our own locations is an integral part of our sustainability strategy. With the realization of the planned wind farm project in Papenburg, we are taking an important step in this direction. We make an active contribution to the energy transition and the expansion of onshore wind power in Germany. By installing photovoltaic systems on the roofs of our plants on a large scale, we are gradually reducing our external energy requirements.”

Mercedes-Benz informed that since this year, production at company plants has been CO₂-neutral and the company is pursuing the goal of covering more than 70 percent of the energy demand in production with renewable energies by 2030. As announced at its ESG Conference on April 11 of this year, Mercedes-Benz is focusing on the expansion of solar and wind energy at its own locations and by concluding further corresponding power purchase agreements.

By 2025, Mercedes-Benz said it will invest a triple-digit million euros amount in expanding the installation of photovoltaic systems.

The company’s goal is to at least halve CO₂ emissions per passenger car over the entire life cycle by the end of this decade compared to 2020.

The company is also planning to enter into an agreement Canada’s lithium development company Rock Tech Lithium to produce high-quality lithium hydroxide for battery manufacturing. Mercedes-Benz is looking to become fully electric by the end of the decade.

Last year, the car maker announced that taking 33% stake in European battery cell manufacturer Automotive Cells Company (ACC) to scale up development and production of next-generation high-performance battery cells and modules.