Boehringer Ingelheim produces its own green energy
July 08 2024 - 1:15PM
- German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics Robert
Habeck inaugurates new biomass power plant
- Ingelheim site can cover 95% of its energy needs from renewable
sources
- New power plant helps achieve the company’s global climate
targets and saves around 50,000 tons of CO2 per year
Boehringer Ingelheim inaugurated a biomass power plant at its
Ingelheim site on Monday. With the new power plant, Boehringer
Ingelheim is optimizing its energy supply and protecting the
environment at the same time: Around 50,000 tons of CO2 are saved
per year. The CO2 emissions of the site's own energy generation are
reduced by 70%. In total, the company is investing EUR 205 million
in sustainable infrastructure projects in Ingelheim and will be
able to cover 95% of its energy requirements at the site from
renewable sources in the future.
The Vice Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors, Michael
Schmelmer, described the commissioning as a "significant milestone"
for Boehringer Ingelheim and explained: "Part of our sustainability
goals is to protect natural resources so that our earth remains a
place worth living in for people and animals. With an
environmentally friendly and more independent energy supply, we are
ensuring stable production in order to be able to deliver
medications for patients worldwide."
The ceremonial inauguration was attended by the German Vice
Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck and
Rhineland-Palatinate Environment Minister Katrin Eder.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert
Habeck said: "The decarbonization of all areas of our economy is
necessary in order to achieve global climate targets on the one
hand and a reduction in energy imports on the other. Boehringer
Ingelheim is a good example of this. The company uses renewable
energies for production. It trains and attracts talents as an
attractive employer. Last but not least, it invests heavily in
research and development, thus contributing to better healthcare
and future proofing of the site."
Biomass is an important source of renewable energy and is
considered almost CO2 neutral. The waste wood used as fuel in
Ingelheim is a waste product. It comes from the Rhine-Main area and
is controlled according to strict quality standards.
Further measures for CO2 neutrality by 2030
The company has set itself the goal of making its business
operations CO2 neutral by 2030. To this end, many individual
projects are being implemented to save energy worldwide. By
constructing more energy-efficient buildings, for example, the
company has so far been able to save around 25% percent of its
energy needs per square meter of floor space in Ingelheim. In
Ingelheim, the company has also been operating its own solar park
since 2023. Several other Boehringer Ingelheim sites are already
certified as carbon neutral, for example in Dortmund (Germany),
Gainesville (USA), Zhangjian (China) or Sant Cugat (Spain).
About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in
both human and animal health. As one of the industry’s top
investors in Research and Development, the company focuses on
developing innovative therapies in areas of high unmet medical
need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a
long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire
value chain. More than 53,500 employees serve over 130 markets to
build a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable tomorrow. Learn
more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.