A key factor of our sustainability strategy is to ensure clean and safe operations, and we are constantly working on improving our performance in this area. Now, we were able to take another step toward cleaner operations. At our location in Wels, we recently implemented a photovoltaic system, which will enable us to contribute to SDG 7.
The energy transition is crucial not only in an environmental scope but also in economic and social aspects. Sustainable energy transforms the planet, economies, and lives. Energy efficiency is the key to accelerating economic development and drastically reducing emissions. Unfortunately, the energy sector is still dominated by fossil fuels and is currently responsible for 73% of greenhouse gas emissions.
The most recent IPCC report showed that greenhouse gas emissions are higher than they have ever been and that rapid transformations across all systems will be required to avoid the worst climate impacts. One of its recommendations was to scale up low-carbon electricity with renewables and other clean energy sources, such as photovoltaics. The rising energy prices resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war have also further highlighted the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and speed up the transition.
We talked about the implementation with Robert Puntigam, our facility manager in Austria and one of the key persons to make this project happen. He explained how he considers the photovoltaic system the path toward clean energy. “The project was important to me for sustainability reasons because I firmly believe that we as a company can make a significant contribution to the energy transition,” says Puntigam.
Robert walked us through the process of installing the new system. Thankfully, he said, there was barely any need for structural changes in the building or electrics when installing the photovoltaic solution. After several providers were thoroughly evaluated and we chose the right one, the solar panels were installed on the roof. The whole implementation went very fast and smoothly.
At the heart of the PV system is an inverter that converts the direct current of the PV modules into grid-compliant alternating current, which is then distributed to our supply system through a cable. Installing the 250mm² thick cable in the building was quite a challenge, but we did it!
Regarding the project’s costs, Puntigam explained that during the COVID-19 crisis, companies in Austria got financial support from the government to invest in sustainable solutions, which really helped us to make that meaningful change.
Now, we are one step closer to energy efficiency. Robert already confirms that we are saving about 30% of energy with the recently installed system. This means that we save around 190 000 kg of CO2 per year compared to non-renewable energy sources!
