By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : February 20, 2024 6:40 pm
Share of renewable power increases to 60 percent of current demand
Covestro and RWE have signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for the supply of power and guarantees of origin from offshore wind turbines in the North Sea for the Covestro production site in Antwerp, Belgium. The contract runs from 2026 to 2030 and will enable Covestro to increase the share of renewable energy from the current 45 percent to 60 percent of the site's current power needs and secure the supply of green energy until 2030, saving 103,000 tons of CO2.
"The new contract shows: We are making consistent progress on our path to climate-neutral production - even in economically challenging times," says Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer at Covestro. "Because we are convinced that our vision of a complete focus on the circular economy and climate neutrality is the only way to ensure the long-term success of our company."
Ulf Kerstin, CCO of RWE Supply Trading, says: "We are delighted to support Covestro in achieving its ambitious sustainability goals and to be able to accelerate the transition to climate-neutral production. The great interest of our customers in green power underlines the importance of CO2-free power for the manufacturing industry."
The new PPA with RWE replaces a current agreement, which expires at the end of 2025. At the Antwerp site, Covestro produces the high-performance plastic polycarbonate, which is used in car headlights, electrical and electronic components, LED lights, medical technology and many other applications. Polyether and the important industrial chemical aniline are also produced there, and Covestro is currently expanding production there with the construction of a new world-scale plant.
"This supply agreement is a further step towards increasing the proportion of renewable power in our production," says Dr. Georg Wagner, Managing Director of Covestro in Antwerp. "With this and the use of sustainable raw materials and innovative recycling technologies, our production site is on the way to a climate-neutral and fully circular future. We are delighted to have found a partner in RWE with whom we can reach the next level."