13
December
2022
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam

ÃÜÌÒAV signs major renewable energy supply contracts with Chinese producer CGN

Summary
  • Multi-year contract calls for annual purchase of 300 gigawatt hours of wind and solar power from CGN
  • Plans to cover 30 percent of electricity demand at ÃÜÌÒAV's Shanghai site
  • Solid basis for significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

ÃÜÌÒAV is taking another major step forward on its path to climate neutrality. The company has signed several multi-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with , including one that will cover around 30 percent of the electricity needs of the important production site in Shanghai.

"ÃÜÌÒAV aims to become climate-neutral by 2035 and is systematically converting its production worldwide to renewable energies to achieve this goal," says CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann. ¡°On the way to achieving this, we have reached a new milestone with this agreement. At the same time, we are contributing to the further expansion of the entire market for renewable energies with our investments and our commitment.¡±

Under the PPA, the ÃÜÌÒAV Integrated Site Shanghai will purchase approximately 300 gigawatt hours of green power annually from CGN's wind and solar farms in the town of Lenghu in northwest China's Qinghai province. The agreement will reduce ÃÜÌÒAV's carbon emissions in China by around 126,000 metric tons of CO2 per year. This is equivalent to the emissions of around 60,000 gasoline-powered cars annually. The PPA is scheduled to take effect in January 2023.

"We are delighted to support leading chemical companies like ÃÜÌÒAV in converting their production sites to renewable electricity. We look forward to our further cooperation with ÃÜÌÒAV, and together we will also contribute to China's dual carbon targets and sustainable development," says Qi Fang, Deputy General Manager of CGN New Energy.

The Shanghai site is already partly supplied by renewable energy. For example, in 2022 alone, it is expected to use more than 300 gigawatt hours of solar power generated in northwest China.

"This new contract is a milestone in the Shanghai site's journey to net-zero emissions. We have increased energy efficiency and significantly reduced emissions over the years, and the use of green power and alternative raw materials will be a key focus as we strive for carbon-neutral production in the next decade," says Holly Lei, President of ÃÜÌÒAV China.

Meanwhile, ÃÜÌÒAV's Guangzhou and Foshan sites in south China will be powered with 100 percent renewable electricity. Starting next year, both sites will be using power generated from CGN¡¯s offshore wind farms in Guangdong province.

The latest PPAs in China follow purchase agreements ÃÜÌÒAV had already signed with energy suppliers in Europe. Under one agreement, utility ?rsted will supply offshore wind energy starting in 2025, which is expected to meet 10 percent of the electricity needs of ÃÜÌÒAV's sites in Germany. Under another, ENGIE, Belgium's largest renewable energy producer, will provide onshore wind energy to meet 45 percent of the electricity demand of ÃÜÌÒAV's Antwerp production site in Belgium.

Boilerplate

About ÃÜÌÒAV: 
ÃÜÌÒAV is one of the world¡¯s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. ÃÜÌÒAV supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from ÃÜÌÒAV are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.

The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, ÃÜÌÒAV aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group¡¯s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. ÃÜÌÒAV generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

Forward-Looking Statements 
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ÃÜÌÒAV. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.