Škoda using biomass to support carbon-neutral goals
Czech vehicle manufacturer ŠKODA AUTO (Škoda) is using biomass and other renewables to support its low-carbon goals.
The group’s Vrchlabi component plant is set to become the first carbon-neutral Škoda site in the world. The plant has so far saved carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by converting the high-tech factory to use renewable energy, helping to reduce emissions from 45,000 tonnes to just 3,000 tonnes. The next step will be to offset the remaining emissions through further compensation measures and the purchasing of CO2 certificates.
Sustainable investments are also being made at other sites. Biomass is increasingly being used to generate electricity at the combined heat and power generation facility run by the subsidiary ŠKO-ENERGO in Mladá Boleslav. With up to 95,000 tonnes of wood pellets used annually, the proportion of fuel obtained from renewable raw materials is already at 30%. The company aims to use completely CO2-neutral biomass there in the future.
Michael Oeljeklaus, Škoda’s board member for production and logistics, said: “From the second half of this decade, we will exclusively be using CO2-neutral energy to produce vehicles and components at our Czech sites.
“The Vrchlabi plant is set to be the first CO2-neutral SKODA AUTO production facility, making it a true global pioneer. It will thereby also fully live up to its role as a high-tech location in terms of environmental compatibility and energy efficiency.”
The group’s Vrchlabi component plant is set to become the first carbon-neutral Škoda site in the world. The plant has so far saved carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by converting the high-tech factory to use renewable energy, helping to reduce emissions from 45,000 tonnes to just 3,000 tonnes. The next step will be to offset the remaining emissions through further compensation measures and the purchasing of CO2 certificates.
Sustainable investments are also being made at other sites. Biomass is increasingly being used to generate electricity at the combined heat and power generation facility run by the subsidiary ŠKO-ENERGO in Mladá Boleslav. With up to 95,000 tonnes of wood pellets used annually, the proportion of fuel obtained from renewable raw materials is already at 30%. The company aims to use completely CO2-neutral biomass there in the future.
Michael Oeljeklaus, Škoda’s board member for production and logistics, said: “From the second half of this decade, we will exclusively be using CO2-neutral energy to produce vehicles and components at our Czech sites.
“The Vrchlabi plant is set to be the first CO2-neutral SKODA AUTO production facility, making it a true global pioneer. It will thereby also fully live up to its role as a high-tech location in terms of environmental compatibility and energy efficiency.”
