Renewable energy is an important factor in achieving carbon neutrality across Ford’s European facilities, logistics and direct supplier footprint by 2035.
By Aris Galanopoulos,
Ford has taken a major step towards improving sustainability as part of its ‘Road to Better’ plan after signing a new Memorandum of Understanding with German energy provider RheinEnergie to develop a climate action plan.
As part of the joint commitment to expand the potential of locally generated electricity from renewable sources, the proposed actions include tripling the efficiency of the existing solar panel system at the Ford plant, as well as measures to increase efficiency in manufacturing and lighting processes at the premises of the company’s unit in Cologne.
Solar panels on the roof of Ford’s Central European Parts Warehouse in Merkenich, Cologne will be expanded to produce 3.76 MWp of power – equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of around 1,100 homes. The facility, which is due to be completed in mid-2024, will provide approximately 6% of the electricity needed for Ford’s facilities located in Merkenich, including the company’s development center. In addition to the expansion of the solar panel system, Ford is also supporting the expansion of wind farms in the region. RheinEnergie has identified two potential neighboring areas that could provide energy for the surrounding households and Ford facilities.
“Ford is deeply committed to freedom of movement, which goes hand in hand with protecting the planet. Through RheinEnergie, we already cover all electricity requirements for our facilities in Cologne from renewable sources. Now, we are working together to ensure that this electricity is produced more locally in the future,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe.
Last month, Ford inaugurated the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, the company’s first carbon-neutral assembly plant globally, which supports its commitment to carbon neutrality across its European footprint of facilities, logistics and direct of its suppliers by 2035. Road to Better is Ford’s commitment to building a more sustainable, inclusive and fair future in transportation, where everyone is free to move and pursue their dreams.
“We all have the same goal: to make Cologne climate neutral by 2035. We can only achieve this ambitious goal if we develop and implement concrete solutions with Cologne’s major companies,” said Andreas Feicht, CEO of RheinEnergie. “Together with Ford we are working on more energy-efficient production processes, as well as the gradual decarbonisation of the energy provided to heat the Cologne facilities. Regionally produced green electricity is essential to make domestic car production as a whole more efficient and sustainable.”
All electricity purchased by Ford manufacturing plants now comes from renewable sources. Since 2008, the Ford plant in Cologne has been supplied with electricity exclusively from renewable sources through RheinEnergie. At the beginning of the year, a new photovoltaic array was commissioned at the Valencia plant, which will also be further expanded to reach 10 MWp in 2024.
Source: Skai
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