press release
Munich, Germany: At its Annual Account Press Conference 2015 today, 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 will be 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.
Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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