Solar energy is the energy of the future. As Europe seeks to decarbonise its economy, solar energy will become an ever-more important component of the energy supply. That is why The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is working together with energy supplier Enovos to build two large solar power stations at its testing facilities in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, as part of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
The first power station will be a photovoltaic carport consisting of 1,500 solar panels, covering a parking lot of around 4,000 m2. With an annual production of 657,500 kWh, the carport will be the first in Luxembourg of this scale.
When finished, both stations will produce annually around 5 GWh of electric power and reduce carbon emissions by around 50,000 tons for the next 20 years, while providing clean energy yearly for more than 1,200 households.
This project will enable the company to produce local green and carbon-free energy for Luxembourgish citizens, which will help the Luxembourgish government in its goal to the switch to 100% renewable energies.
The initiative joins several other programmes across the globe which Goodyear is taking part in. For example, Goodyear’s plant in Chile purchases 100% renewable energy from hydropower, eliminating CO2 emissions from the plant’s electricity intake while reducing energy costs by 20%. In addition, in the Asia Pacific region, an additional 250 KW solar project came online in 2020 at the company’s Aurangabad, India, plant. From 2016-2020, the investments in solar in that region have resulted in the generation of approximately 4.3 MW of electricity.
Globally, Goodyear’s total renewable purchases and generation account for 3.7% of the company’s annual electricity consumption.
Going forward Goodyear will continue to develop its global renewable energy strategy that is expected to include company-wide renewable energy use targets. To date, the company has conducted a thorough global landscape analysis of renewable energy opportunities at each of its major facilities, including the availability and cost of power purchase agreements, green energy tariffs and renewable energy certificates. As the company continues to develop its long-term strategy, it will continue to analyse the renewable opportunities that currently exist for its global manufacturing footprint.
About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 54 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.
For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.
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