BMW Group Plant Landshut takes a holistic approach that is consistently geared towards sustainability – all the way from logistics and production to employee mobility and charging infrastructure. The BMW Group’s biggest component plant worldwide uses more than 500 electrically-powered logistics and production vehicles and transport systems: from tractor units and sweepers to forklifts and electric trucks. Some of these are already automated.
In addition to sustainable use of energy, water and air resources, BMW Group Plant Landshut is also sending a clear signal for more biodiversity on plant grounds by pushing forward with creation of ecological habitats for a wide variety of plants and animals. The creation of insect hotels and five bee colonies, each with up to 40,000 bees, are two examples of the plant’s efforts to preserve biodiversity. In recent years, the plant has also been steadily turning green spaces around the plant grounds into flowerbeds and setting up bird nesting boxes.
Experts in all production areas at the plant are always on the lookout for innovative and resource-efficient manufacturing solutions that can reduce CO2 emissions, lower resource consumption and boost energy efficiency. One of the most recent examples: Since February 2021, the light metal foundry, the largest production area in the plant, has been sourcing aluminium produced using solar electricity. This marks an important milestone on the road to the company's goal of lowering CO2 emissions in its supplier network by 20% by 2030. Since producing aluminium is highly energy-intensive, the use of green power - such as solar electricity - has significant potential in reducing CO2 emissions. With 43,000 tonnes valued in the three-digit million euros, the purchase of solar aluminium covers almost half of the annual demand of the light metal foundry at the Landshut plant.
In addition to this, the entire plant will transition to LED lighting across the board by the end of the year. The highly efficient co-generation plant in service since 2018 reduces CO2 emissions by 40,000 tonnes a year, compared to conventional technology. Co-generation plants are energy systems that convert gas into electricity and immediately utilise the resulting heat. Since less waste heat is lost than in conventional electricity generation, up to 85% primary energy use is possible.
The development of alternative CO2-free drive technologies is another top priority for the BMW Group. For this reason, the company is also pursuing hydrogen as part of its open technology approach. In 2022, the BMW Group will produce a small series of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen with a hydrogen fuel cell electric drive train that only emits water vapour. The BMW Group Plant Landshut will supply highly innovative components for the vehicle’s fuel cell system – producing the so-called stack housing for the fuel cells and media end plate from light metal. The system was developed at the Lightweight Construction and Technology Centre (LuTZ) and provides an excellent example of the power of cross-technology innovation at the Landshut location.