Ford claims its Cologne plant will reduce CO2 emissions by 190,000 tonnes a year now it is using renewable electricity to meet demand at the plant, which assembles Fiesta and [European hatchback] Fusion models.
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The ‘green’ electric power is recognised as coming from a fully renewable, environmentally friendly source: three hydro-electric plants in Norway and Sweden, owned by Vannkraft ( Norway) and Fortum ( Sweden). It is supplied to Ford through Cologne-based energy infrastructure service provider Rhein Energie under a contract that foresees the delivery of 480,000 megawatt hours per year.
The Scandinavian electricity covers the complete electric power demand by Ford facilities in Cologne, including the vehicle assembly and other units in Cologne Niehl such as the product development centre and the customer and service department (both located in Merkenich) as well as the manufacturing and administrative operations of Ford Joint Ventures GFT (Getrag Ford Transmission) and TEKFOR (both in Cologne-Niehl).
In May 2004 Ford began using two wind turbines at its Dagenham diesel engine manufacturing site in the UK. These provide enough electricity for engine production – the plant makes around 1m a year.
Since 2000, Ford said, it has reduced its global operational energy use by 27% overall (12% per vehicle built), CO2 emissions by 31% (16% per vehicle built), and water use by more than 25% (11% per vehicle built).
Renewable or “green” power supplies about 3% of Ford’s energy needs worldwide, through the use of hydro, solar, wind and geo-thermal power, landfill gas and waste gases.
“The Cologne plant initiative is part of our broader approach to minimise the environmental effects – in particular CO2 emissions – of our vehicles during their entire life cycle,” said Ford of Europe governmental and environmental affairs head Wolfgang Schneider.
“It marks a cornerstone in our ongoing efforts to implement a broad portfolio of measures across our European plants, aimed at further reducing the CO2 footprint from our manufacturing operations.”
