Mercedes-Benz’s Wind Farm Initiative At Its Papenburg Test Track

Mercedes-Benz Wind Farm, Papenburg Test Track

Double-digit number of wind turbines by the middle of the decade, Mercedes-Benz’s plan for a wind farm at its test track in Papenburg, Northern Germany.

Suggestively, it will generate over 100-MW, which will cover more than 15% of the annual electricity demand of Mercedes-Benz Group AG in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz Group AG’s management board member for production and supply chain, Jörg Burzer, said, "The targeted expansion of renewable energies at our own locations is an integral part of our sustainability strategy. With the realization of the planned wind farm project in Papenburg, we are taking an important step in this direction.”

Additionally, as part of this effort, Mercedes-Benz is also focusing on the expansion of solar and wind energy at its own locations via a long-term power purchase agreement with a partner. 

Of which, by the year 2025, it will invest a triple-digit million euros amount in expanding the installation of photovoltaic systems.

With this project, Mercedes-Benz is expanding its green electricity portfolio in the medium term, and at the same time actively supporting the expansion of onshore wind energy in Germany.

Burzer added, “We make an active contribution to the energy transition and the expansion of onshore wind power in Germany. By installing photovoltaic systems on the roofs of our plants on a large scale, we are gradually reducing our external energy requirements."

On that note, since this year, production at company plants has been CO₂-neutral and Mercedes aims to cover over 70% of the energy demand in production with renewable energies by 2030.

The company's goal is to at least halve CO₂ emissions per passenger car over the entire life cycle by the end of this decade compared to 2020. 

Namely, in terms of the electrification of the vehicle fleet, charging with green electricity, perfection of battery technology, and full use of recycled materials and renewable energies in production. 

All in all, the approximately 800-hectare site in Papenburg has been an integral part of Mercedes-Benz’s research and development activities since 1998.