Wieland Takes Another Step To-ward Net-Zero Emissions
- Wieland is advancing the decarbonization of its production processes and remains committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.
- Long-term renewable electricity partnership with Vattenfall in Germany strengthens Wieland’s energy supply.
- The Nauen Solar Park will cover approximately 15% of the electricity that Wieland purchases annually for its German production sites.
Wieland is significantly increasing the share of renewable energy used at its German production sites. Together with Vattenfall, a leading European energy company, the company officially inaugurated the Nauen Solar Park near Berlin, Germany. The facility is located approximately 40 kilometers west of the German capital and will generate around 47 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually.
Developed and built by Vattenfall, the solar park will continue to be operated by the energy company. Under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), Wieland will purchase the facility’s entire electricity output for the next ten years. This volume corresponds to approximately 15% of the electricity that Wieland procures each year for its German operations.
The project strengthens Wieland’s access to renewable energy while making an important contribution to more sustainable production.
A Key Contribution to Decarbonizing Production
Wieland aims to achieve net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2045. To accomplish this goal, the company is pursuing a comprehensive decarbonization strategy built on three key pillars:
- increasing the use of recycled materials,
- electrifying production processes, and
- expanding the use of renewable energy.
The Nauen Solar Park particularly supports the third pillar by increasing the share of renewable energy in Wieland’s electricity supply and reducing indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity.
Dr. Erwin Mayr, Chief Executive Officer of the Wieland Group, said: "Reducing our CO₂ emissions is one of the most important long-term priorities for our company. That is why we continue to invest in recycling, the electrification of our operations, and the expansion of renewable energy. The Nauen Solar Park is another important building block on our path to net-zero emissions by 2045. It demonstrates how sustainability and industrial value creation can successfully go hand in hand."
Renewable Energy Strengthens Supply Security and Competitiveness
The partnership with Vattenfall is part of a broader set of initiatives through which Wieland continues to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity supply while strengthening the foundation for competitive manufacturing.
In addition to long-term power purchase agreements, Wieland is making significant investments in its own renewable electricity generation. The company’s objective is to secure the long-term energy supply of its sites, further reduce emissions, and strengthen sustainability as a key competitive advantage.
To expand its renewable energy portfolio, Wieland pursues a technology-neutral approach.
This includes hydropower generation at its Voehringen production site in Germany, rooftop photovoltaic systems installed around the world, and the company-owned Erbach Solar Park near Ulm, one of the largest solar parks in southern Germany. Wieland is also evaluating investments in its own wind power installations.
Andreas Torka, Senior Vice President Sustainability & Technology of the Wieland Group, explained: "There is no single solution for decarbonizing energy-intensive manufacturing processes. Success depends on a combination of measures. Long-term power purchase agreements such as the one we have signed with Vattenfall are an important tool for reducing our indirect emissions from purchased electricity, expanding the share of renewable energy in our energy mix, and strengthening the long-term competitiveness of our operations."
About the Nauen Solar Park and Vattenfall
The Nauen Solar Park is in the Havelland region west of Berlin and has an installed capacity of 46 MWp. The facility comprises approximately 80,000 solar modules across roughly 40 hectares and will generate around 47 GWh of renewable electricity annually.
Vattenfall is one of Europe’s leading energy companies. The company develops, builds, and operates renewable energy projects across several European countries and continues to invest significantly in both wind and solar power.
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[Image] Wolfgang Albeck (left to right), VP of Corporate Communications Wieland-Werke AG, Heiko Zinn, Vice President of Procurement & Logistics Wieland-Werke AG, Nauen Solar Park Catrin Jung, Senior Vice President at Vattenfall, Claus Wattendrup, Vice President of Solar and Batteries at Vattenfall, Robert Crumbach (SPD), Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Planning for Brandenburg, and Lars Rohwer (CDU), Member of the German Bundestag, at the opening of the Nauen Solar Park.
[Image] Vattenfall Solar Park in Nauen
For further information, please contact
Dr. Wolfgang Albeck | Vice President Corporate Communications
Graf-Arco-Straße 36 | 89079 Ulm | Germany
P +49 152 59719639 | press@wieland.com