Dodatne informacije so na voljo spodaj in v priponki v angleščni.
+++ Nedeljković, Board Member for Production:
“Technological breakthrough underscores our innovativeness” +++
Hydrogen power also in plant and transport logistics +++
Leipzig. BMW Group Plant Leipzig is the first car
plant in the world to pilot a newly developed burner technology that
allows to run on green hydrogen as well as natural gas. The new
technology meets the feasibility requirements to reduce CO2
emissions from the intensive use of natural gas, a fossil fuel. BMW AG
Board Member Milan Nedeljković: “This is a technological breakthrough.
It underscores our innovativeness and our determination to make
production ever more sustainable.”
Today BMW Group Plant Leipzig launched the first fuel-flexible
hydrogen-capable burner for paint dryers. The special feature of the
system is that it can run on hydrogen (H2), methane
(CH4) or a mixture of the two. It can also switch between
fuels while in operation. Initially, it will run in trial operations.
The innovative fuel-flexible burner system was developed in
collaboration with the Bremen-based company Saacke, and with the
Fraunhofer Institute IFF in Magdeburg supporting the integration of
the safety concept.
Sustainability as a key element in the BMW iFACTORY
Reducing CO2 emissions is one of the central aims of the
BMW iFACTORY with its LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL approach. While
sustainability, optimum use of resources and circularity are the focus
of GREEN, the LEAN strand of the strategy works for efficient, precise
and highly flexible production. DIGITAL makes effective use of
digitalisation in data science, artificial intelligence and virtualisation.
To become even more sustainable, the BMW Group is devising
site-specific solutions to reduce CO2 emissions – including
geothermal, photovoltaics, and hydrogen. The various solutions will be
deployed in whatever way best suits the site in question.
To run hydrogen throughout, a pipeline will be needed to ensure
sufficient quantities of green hydrogen are available at all times.
The Leipzig plant has the opportunity to use a hydrogen network
created in the region for this purpose.
Hydrogen power in plant and transport logistics
Hydrogen has long been a staple fuel in plant logistics. The first
indoor hydrogen filling station in Germany was installed on the plant
premises in 2013, to fuel forklifts and tug trains in intralogistics.
Today, almost ten years later, Plant Leipzig has the largest fleet in
Germany with over 130 fuel-cell powered forklifts. There are also five
intralogistics hydrogen stations on the premises. The latest offers
fully automated refuelling.
The BMW Group is also working with its partners to trial
hydrogen-powered solutions to support the decarbonisation of transport
logistics beyond the factory gates as well and is currently involved
in the H2HAUL and HyCET research projects. Hydrogen is a promising
fuel for transport logistics because it allows fast refuelling, high
payloads and flexible usability. It also offers extensive range. And
green hydrogen – produced with energy from renewable sources – will
pave the way for lower-carbon, long-distance logistics in the future.
The H2HAUL project in Belgium, Germany, France and
Switzerland is working to develop and pilot 16 hydrogen fuel
cell-powered trucks and install new, high-capacity filling stations
for reliable fuel supplies. Launched in 2019, H2HAUL will run for five
years, with Germany contributing by trialling two fuel-cell trucks for
transportation between Plant Leipzig and Nuremberg.
On the HyCET project, the BMW Group is leading a
consortium to advance the development and testing of trucks with
hydrogen combustion engines in transport logistics. With project
funding of 11.3 million euros approved by the Federal Ministry for
Digital and Transport in September of this year, HyCET aims to
demonstrate the potential of hydrogen combustion-engine trucks in
transport logistics and establish two hydrogen filling stations for
public use.
Plant Leipzig – Geared for sustainability from the outset
“Sustainability is in Plant Leipzig’s DNA, as it were,” said Plant
Director Petra Peterhänsel. “Efficient and sustainable processes were
already very important to us when we were planning the facility, and
one highly visible result of that is the four wind turbines that
supply electricity to the plant.” Erected in 2013, they deliver 10 MW
of power (generating approx. 26 GWh/year). In 2017 a further milestone
followed when the Battery Farm comprising up to 700 second-life
high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles was opened. The batteries
are used to store energy, such as that generated by the wind turbines.
By storing the energy on the premises, local energy management can be
optimised and the electrical grid kept stable.
