- Leading global automotive supplier expands sustainability with solar energy
- Photovoltaic system with 514.96 kWp completed on the roof surfaces
- 1355 solar modules on 2520 m²
- Electricity production 533,174 kWh/year and CO₂ savings 257,375 kg/year
Neuss - Yanfeng, the world's leading automotive supplier, is using solar energy to make its Neustadt plant ecologically fit for the future. The international automotive supplier is already using renewable energy in the production of door panels - as it does at all its sites in Europe. In Neustadt an der Donau, even more sustainable and emission-free solar power will be added in future, planned and realized by CUBE CONCEPTSthe full-service partner for renewable energies and photovoltaics. Yanfeng and CUBE CONCEPTS are thus paving the way for resource-saving production and helping to reduce CO₂ emissions with its PV system.
533,000 kWh from solar energy
The new photovoltaic system has already been put into operation and supplies around 532,000 kWh of electricity per year. The project phase lasted a total of seven months. Construction began at the end of 2021, but completion had to be briefly interrupted at the beginning of 2022 due to snow. The new solar system has now been officially approved, is in operation and supplies reliable solar energy.
95 % of solar energy is used for direct consumption
A total of 1,355 solar modules were installed on the roof of the factory buildings, which convert the sun's rays into electricity. The direct current generated is then converted into alternating current by eight inverters - making it directly usable in the Yanfeng plant. Over 95 percent of the solar energy generated is used directly at the plant. If there is less demand for solar energy at the plant, it is fed into the local power grid of Stadtwerke Neustadt. Around 280 tons of carbon dioxide are saved each year with the help of the new system.
Goal: Climate neutrality by 2030
"Thanks to the switch to climate-neutral solar energy, we can carry out our production processes in a more environmentally friendly and resource-saving way," explains Gunnar Büchter, Executive Director Procurement & Strategy at Yanfeng in Europe. "Saving energy and emissions at our sites is an important measure for achieving the goals we have set ourselves in our sustainability strategy and our ambition to achieve climate-neutral production at our plants by 2030."
A study by the BMWi confirms that electricity costs account for around 70 percent of total energy costs in industry. In addition, companies are increasingly being asked to achieve CO₂-neutral production across the entire supply chain. "From an economic point of view, it is therefore profitable to use as much electricity from renewable energies as possible. Solar power allows you to permanently reduce your costs, increase your efficiency and therefore remain attractive to existing and potential customers." The company will also take over the operation, maintenance and servicing of the system for the entire duration of the contract. With the new photovoltaic system, Yanfeng is achieving a pioneering milestone in the transition to climate-neutral energy production at the Neustadt site.
About Yanfeng
Yanfeng is a leading global automotive supplier that focuses on automotive interiors, exteriors, seats, cockpit electronics and passive safety systems and is actively developing new business areas. The company employs around 55,000 people at over 240 locations worldwide. The technical team of 4,200 experts operates in nine research and development centers and other regional offices and has extensive expertise, including engineering and software development, design and test validation. Yanfeng specializes in smart cabin concepts and lightweight technologies, helping automakers create the mobile interior of the future with market-leading solutions. Further information can be found at https://www.yanfeng.com/en.