To create true zero emission technology, electricity must come from renewable sources – and now Ford is taking the lead with wind power.
The company has put two giant wind turbines, each standing more than 150 metres tall, into service at its Ford Genk plant in Belgium. The turbines were installed by Electrabel, a local energy company, with each having an output of 2MW of power. The turbines in Belgium are expected to meet a significant part of the plant's power needs, where it produces the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-MAX models.
Genk is not the first Ford of Europe plant to use renewable electricity – the Dagenham Diesel Centre in the UK was actually the world's first automotive plant to meet all its electricity needs from two giant on-site turbines which were installed five years ago.
Indeed a third turbine is expected to be added in Dagenham next year to ensure it remains 100 per cent powered by wind electricity following the installation of a new 1.4/1.6litre engine production line.
The Dunton Technical Centre, also in the UK, takes its electricity from renewable sources too. From March 2008, all the electric power on the 270acre site has been purchased from renewable sources including hydro, wind and waste generation. In Wales, the Bridgend engine plant uses roof mounted/solar voltaic panels and in Germany, Ford is also sourcing renewable electricity for all its power demands in Cologne.
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