Car manufacturer
Škoda Auto is paving the way for carbon-neutral production at its Czech plants by the end of the decade; working with energy and solutions company ČEZ ESCO and energy supplier ŠKO-Energo, Škoda has commissioned three rooftop photovoltaic systems at its main plant in Mladá Boleslav and the Škoda Parts Centre logistics hub. Covering an area of over 10,000m2, the new solar power capability is expected to generate more than 2GWh of emission-free electricity annually from more than 5,400 photovoltaic modules.
Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto’s Board member for production and logistics, said: “At Škoda Auto, we are continuously evaluating and working to reduce our carbon footprint. As part of our Next Level — Škoda Strategy 2030, ‘green production’ is a central pillar of our roadmap through this decade of transformation and our ambitious sustainability efforts. Tackling this challenge holistically with our partners, we regard this power plant as crucial to achieving our goal of powering vehicle and component production entirely using carbon-neutral energy at our Czech plants by 2030.”
Daniel Beneš, ČEZ’s chairman, added: “At ČEZ, we are working diligently towards decarbonisation and ensuring the security of energy supplies. Our goal is to produce 6GW from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve carbon-neutrality in energy production by 2040. As a leading energy company in the Czech Republic, we are committed to supporting both private and industrial customers in reducing their carbon footprint. The photovoltaic power plant at Škoda Auto aligns perfectly with these objectives.”
The first cooperation between Škoda Auto, ČEZ ESCO, and ŠKO-Energo on solar systems started in late 2019 with the installation of some 2,200m2 of solar modules. These can generate more than 450MWh annually, covering almost 17% of the Service Centre’s energy needs.
In February 2021, Škoda Auto entered into an extended partnership with ŠKO-Energo and ČEZ ESCO with the goal of building a solar power plant comprising 5,468 photovoltaic modules in total: 3,020 panels on the Škoda Parts Centre, 1,328 panels on the U6C hall, and 1,120 panels on the M12L hall; jointly, these modules will provide a nominal output of 2,146kW peak.
Škoda Auto is also advancing the production of sustainable energy across its plants internationally. In India, the photovoltaic system at the Aurangabad plant has been connected to the grid since 2018, generating more than 1,440MWh in the past year alone. Meanwhile, a rooftop solar power plant at the Chakan plant in Pune was expanded in February 2023; it can produce up to 26,600MWh of electricity annually, for up to 30% of the site’s electricity consumption.