PressClub United Kingdom · Article.
Energy transition at the BMW Group: For the first time, over 50 percent of electrical energy worldwide is drawn from renewable sources.
Thu Mar 19 10:30:00 CET 2015 Press Release
At its Annual Account Press Conference 2015, the BMW Group announced that, for the first time in the history of the Group, 51 percent of its electricity worldwide is being supplied from renewable sources. This is a significant milestone for the company, its aim being to gradually increase the share of renewable energy to 100 percent over the coming years.
Munich, Germany: At its Annual Account Press Conference 2015, the BMW Group announced that, for the first time in the history of the Group, 51 percent of its electricity worldwide is being supplied from renewable sources. This is a significant milestone for the company, its aim being to gradually increase the share of renewable energy to 100 percent over the coming years.
The BMW Group has a step-by-step plan to transition the company to 100 percent electrical energy supply from renewable sources. The first step is to increasingly improve the efficiency of energy consumption at facilities worldwide. In a second step, systems that generate electricity from renewable sources will be installed at individual locations. A third step will see the BMW Group purchasing electricity from renewable sources from energy companies worldwide.
Ursula Mathar, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Protection at
the BMW Group: “We have a clear objective and a concrete plan for the
transition to renewable energy. However, economic viability is
essential for implementation. Only under the right framework
conditions can we put our plans into action step by step in individual
markets worldwide.”
Some 51 percent of the electricity supplied to the BMW Group worldwide is already being drawn from renewable energy sources. In Leipzig, Germany, the BMW Group is using wind power. In mid-2013, four wind turbines started operation on the premises of the plant, with 100 percent of the power produced going into the production of the BMW i3 and BMW i8. At the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, USA, a methane gas system provides around 50 percent of the energy required for production. At the Rosslyn plant in South Africa, the foundation stone for a combined heat and power unit fired by biogas was laid at the end of 2014. The gas used is sourced from the waste products created on cattle and chicken farms. Commissioning of this system will already enable the company to cover over 25 percent of the energy required by the production plant this year.
The BMW Group takes an integrated approach to sustainability along the entire value chain. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, Group-wide environmental protection, sustainability in the supply chain, employee focus and corporate social responsibility are integral parts of the strategy. The company publishes key performance indicators and objectives in its annual Sustainable Value Report. The current Sustainable Value Report 2014 is published on the same date as the Annual Report for the first time – 18 March 2015. You can find detailed information on the BMW Group’s Sustainability Strategy as well as on key performance indicators and objectives at: www.bmwgroup.com/svr.
For more information please contact:
BMW Group Corporate Communications
Kai Zoebelein
Spokesperson Sustainability
Phone: + 49-89-382-21170
Fax: + 49-89-382-10881
E-Mail: Kai.Zoebelein@bmw.de
The BMW Group
With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2014, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.118 million cars and 123,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2014 was approximately € 8.71 billion on revenues amounting to € 80.40 billion. As of 31 December 2014, the BMW Group had a workforce of 116,324 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
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