The BMW Group will power production of the new electric BMW iX and BMW i4 at Plants Dingolfing and Munich entirely with regional green hydroelectricity.
Contracts have been signed with Stadtwerke Munchen and RWE Supply & Trading for energy to be supplied by hydroelectricity from the Isar and Lech Rivers in Germany. Board Member for Production Milan Nedeljkovic explains, "We take a holistic view of sustainability. So rather than just minimising emissions from driving, we are working to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our production processes."
The green electricity needed for BMW iX production will come from the Isar hydroelectric power stations Uppenborn between Moosburg and Landshut while production of the BMW i4 will be powered by the Lech hydroelectric power stations in Gersthofen and Rain. The energy they supply is also used to manufacture a wide range of components for the two electric models at BMW Group Plants Landshut, Dingolfing and Berlin.
Beyond implementing more of such contracts, the BMW Group is also increasing the share of the renewable or carbon-neutral electricity it generates itself. Since 2013, four wind turbines at Plant Leipzig have provided all the electricity needed to manufacture the BMW i3. Another example from the BMW Group production network is its newest plant, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where production is largely powered using energy from large solar arrays.
The energy goals the BMW Group has set itself are designed for the longer term. Between 2006 and 2019, emissions from production fell by more than 70% per car. Going forward, Nedeljkovic explains, "We want to cut CO2 emissions by another 80% by 2030, to less than 10% of what they were in 2006."
