Mercedes-Benz plans for installing a wind farm at its test track in Papenburg, northern Germany, are taking shape: German energy park developer UKA (Umweltgerechte Kraftanlagen GmbH & Co. KG) has been awarded a long-term contract worth hundreds of millions to erect approximately 20 wind turbines by middle of the decade. The planned wind farm with a capacity of more than 120 MW will be operational on the site as part of a power purchase agreement (PPA) sufficient to cover around 20 percent of the annual electricity requirements of Mercedes-Benz Group AG in Germany. The installation of photovoltaic systems on the test track is also being examined. The approval process for the wind farm is to start before the end of this year. Subject to the necessary regulatory approvals, construction of the wind turbines could begin as early as next year, and the wind farm could become operational in 2026.
"Mercedes-Benz is proud to be making an important contribution to the expansion of wind energy in Germany with the new wind farm in Papenburg. By 2039, we intend to cover the energy needs of our global production network entirely with renewable energies, and therefore without CO2 emissions. We are systematically gearing our locations up for this."
Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production and Supply Chain Management
"We at UKA are very pleased that a tender was decided in our favour and are proud to be able to implement this project together with Mercedes-Benz. We all benefit from affordable, clean electricity produced independently in Germany."
Gernot Gauglitz, Managing Director UKA
The approximately 800-hectare Papenburg test track has been an integral part of the company's research and development activities since 1998. With this project, Mercedes-Benz is expanding its green power portfolio in the medium term and at the same time actively supporting the expansion of onshore wind energy in Germany. The planning for the implementation of the wind farm project by UKA and the ecologically sustainable use of the area is being carried out in close collaboration with the relevant local authorities and local stakeholders.