Wieland Group, a German supplier that specializes in copper and brass products, including tubes for transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration applications, has announced plans to build a 24-hectare (59.3-acre) solar park in Erbach, Germany – the neighboring town to the company’s headquarters in Ulm.
According to the company, transitioning to renewable electricity sources is an important part of its sustainability strategy.
“Generating our own electricity through photovoltaics is an essential part of our sustainability strategy,” said Dr. Erwin Mayr, CEO of Wieland. “This project brings us another big step closer to our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.”
“Generating our own electricity through photovoltaics is an essential part of our sustainability strategy. This project brings us another big step closer to our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.”
Dr. Erwin Mayr, Wieland.
The park, which Wieland says will be one of the largest contiguous solar parks in southern Germany, is expected to produce around 26GWh a year. This corresponds to around 6% of the company’s annual electricity requirements, it said.
Once operational in 2024, the solar park will help Wieland reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by around 18,000 metric tons – or 4% of the group’s “emissions from the use of purchased electricity.”
According to Wieland, the park will also help strengthen the region’s power generation, and the company is calling on landowners to report suitable sites for similar projects.
Commitment to sustainability
With the ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2045, Wieland is aiming to reduce its scope 1 (i.e., direct from operations) and scope 2 (i.e., indirect from off-site energy consumption) emissions by 42% by 2030.
As of 2021, Wieland has reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 10% compared to its 2018/19 baseline through the expansion of its green power purchase agreements and electrification of its production facilities.
Wieland has been recognized as being among the top 25% of companies rated for environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) by EcoVadis, receiving a silver medal in January 2023 with a score of 62 out of 100 points.
The company was awarded a B in the “climate change” category by the London-based Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), putting it in the top 36% of its international peers. Only 11% have achieved the top score of A.
