Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles unit (VWCV) says that the implementation of sustainable solutions mean that it will save more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide this year. It says green electricity, via solar power and heat from biomass, is largely responsible and helping to bring the goal of balance sheet climate-neutral production by 2040 tangibly closer.
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VWCVsays this year has seen a switch to green electricity through self-sufficient operation with solar energy in Września and the commissioning of a biomass CHP plant (municipal energy company enercity) in Hanover.
Steffen Reiche, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Production and Logistics at VWCV said: “Sustainability is not a short-term goal for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, but a permanent commitment. With the switch to green electricity, the expansion of renewable energies and innovative partner projects such as the biomass CHP plant in Hanover, we are consistently focusing on sustainable solutions – and will thus save more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide this year. We are boosting regional value creation, securing jobs and making an active contribution to climate protection. Our goal is clear: by 2040, we want the production processes at all locations to be climate-neutral and thus assume responsibility for the environment and society.”
Since January 2025, VWCV’s Hanover plant has been operating exclusively with electricity from renewable sources. The Polish sites in Poznań and Września have been fully converted to green electricity since 2019.
VWCV maintains that a particular success was achieved in Września: the in-house photovoltaic system with 31,000 modules and 18.3 megawatts of output supplied solar energy to all of the plant’s production facilities for the first time in September 2024. On average, the system covers around 25% of the electricity demand each year, and further projects for the use of renewable energies are already being planned.
Heating savings of 40% are being achieved in Hanover and VWCV is also working with regional partners on sustainable solutions for heat supply. With the commissioning of the biomass combined heat and power plant by the regional energy company enercity, the share of climate-neutral district heating in Hanover will increase significantly, the company says. The plant uses only non-recyclable waste wood from the region and combines waste wood incineration with a large heat pump and modern flue gas cleaning. This means that fuels are almost completely recycled and emissions are significantly reduced.
“Sustainability is far more than a corporate goal for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – it is our compass for responsible action and long-term success,” says Petra Schreiber, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “We combine ecological responsibility with economic strength and social commitment.”
