Ford's Cologne plant converts to 'green' energy

Ford has sourced renewable electricity to cover the full electric power demand of its manufacturing and engineering facilities at its Cologne plant in Germany. This includes the electricity needed for the assembly of its Fiesta and Fusion models at the plant.

Through this initiative, the company will reduce its CO 2 emissions by 190,000 tons per year.

"The Cologne plant initiative is part of our broader approach to minimize the environmental effects – in particular CO 2 emissions - of our vehicles during their entire life cycle," said Dr Wolfgang Schneider, vice president, governmental and environmental affairs, Ford of Europe.

"It marks a cornerstone in our ongoing efforts to implement a broad portfolio of measures across our European plants, aimed at further reducing the CO 2 footprint from our manufacturing operations," he added.

The green electric power is recognized as coming from a fully renewable, environmentally friendly source. It is generated by three hydro-power plants in Norway and Sweden, owned by Vannkraft AS ( Norway) and Fortum AB ( Sweden), and provided to Ford through Cologne-based energy infrastructure service provider Rhein Energie AG. The contract foresees the delivery of 480.000 Megawatt hours per year.

The electricity provided from Scandinavia covers the complete electric power demand of Ford's facilities in Cologne. This includes the assembly plant for the Fiesta and Fusion models, but also all staff organizations in Cologne Niehl, the Product Development Centre, the Ford 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).

Another environmentally responsible manufacturing milestone was set by Ford in May 2004 when the company began using two wind turbines at its Dagenham manufacturing site in the UK. These two wind turbines provide enough electricity for most of the electrical power needs of the Dagenham diesel engine production centre. This plant produces around one million diesel engines a year.

Globally, Ford continues to reduce environmental footprint of its manufacturing operations. Since the year 2000, Ford has reduced its global operational energy use by 27 per cent overall (12 per cent per vehicle built), CO 2 emissions by 31 per cent (16 per cent per vehicle built), and water use by more than 25 per cent (11 per cent per vehicle built).

Renewable or "green" power supplies about 3 per cent of Ford's energy needs worldwide, through the use of hydro, solar, wind and geo-thermal power, landfill gas and waste gases.