UKA to build 120-MW wind park at Mercedes-Benz test track

May 24 (Renewables Now) - German automotive major Mercedes-Benz Group AG (ETR:MBG) announced today it has hired UKA Group to build a wind park with a capacity of more than 120 MW at its test track in Papenburg.

Mercedes-Benz said it has placed a long-term contract “worth hundreds of millions” with UKA in connection with the project, which could enter the construction phase as early as next year, subject to receiving the required regulatory nods. It previously announced plans for a 100-MW wind farm on the particular site.

The 20-turbine facility is expected to cover about 20% of the group's annual electricity requirements in Germany from 2026 onwards. Mercedes-Benz will be buying the output of the wind park under a power purchase agreement (PPA). The company is also considering a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation on the 800-hectare test track.

"By 2039, we intend to cover the energy needs of our global production network entirely with renewable energies, and therefore without CO2 emissions. We are systematically gearing our locations up for this,” said Joerg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production and Supply Chain Management.

Presently, the group meets about 45% of its total energy demand with renewable power and intends to raise that share to 70% by 2030. To this end, it intends to install up to 140 MWp of solar parks at its own locations by 2025.