Solar energy at the Bosch Home Comfort Group: progress and visions for the future
Increasing energy efficiency at all locations is an important part of the Bosch strategy. The Bosch Home Comfort Group is putting this strategy into practice. Since 2023, the Group has switched to 100% green electricity at all production sites worldwide. In addition, the Bosch Home Comfort Group is planning to significantly expand its own renewable electricity generation. The Bosch Home Comfort Group currently generates 5.7 GWh of its own electricity. The target is a total of 13.5 GWh of in-house generation by 2030. In recent years, important steps have been taken at various locations to increase the share of renewable in-house generation in electricity consumption. The projects at the production sites in Wernau (Germany), Manisa (Turkey) and Worcester (UK) are clear examples of how the Bosch Home Comfort Group is driving forward the use of solar energy.
Manisa: Largest Photovoltaic System of the Bosch Home Comfort Group
In Manisa, Türkiye, the Bosch Home Comfort Group has installed one of the division's largest photovoltaic systems. The system on the roof of the logistics center covers around 25 percent of the plant's annual electricity requirements. With an investment volume of 40 million Turkish lira and 3,654 installed solar modules, which generate a total output of 1.54 MWe AC, the project represents a milestone in the company's sustainability efforts.
Depending on weather conditions, the photovoltaic system in Manisa is expected to generate 2.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity per year. This considerable in-house production not only brings a financial benefit to the plant, but also significantly reduces its carbon footprint. Since 2019, several projects have been implemented in Manisa to reduce energy consumption, which have already resulted in a total saving of over 2,600 MWh. These initiatives not only contribute to achieving the company's sustainability goals but have also been recognized at the Bosch Home Comfort Group's Sustainable Location Awards.
Haşiman Üsküdar, Technical Manager of the Manisa plant, emphasizes the importance of the project: “Our photovoltaic system is an important part of our strategy to reduce our carbon footprint and secure our energy supply. Investing in renewable energies is an important step towards long-term success, both ecologically and economically”.
Wernau: Photovoltaic system on new roof
In June 2024, a state-of-the-art photovoltaic system was put into operation on the roof of an office and development building at the Wernau site. The system is a prime example of the intelligent use of roof surfaces to generate energy. With 324 PV modules on an area of 630 m², the system achieves an output of 130 kilowatt peak (kWp). Thanks to a “technology bridge” that connects the historic building with the neighboring building and simultaneously accommodates ventilation and cooling systems, the entire roof area of the building could be optimally used for solar power generation. The electricity generated is consumed entirely on site and makes an important contribution to the site's climate-friendly power supply.
The system is not the first solar project in Wernau. Back in 2005, a smaller photovoltaic system with an output of 28 kWp was installed on the front of an administration building. In comparison, however, the current system represents a significant step forward. In addition, plans for another large PV system on the roof of the logistics extension are already well advanced. With a planned output of 280 kWp, the installation is scheduled to begin after completion of the second construction phase in 2025.
Facility Manager Steffen Ulmer is delighted with the progress made in Wernau: “The commissioning of the new photovoltaic system is a further step towards expanding our own renewable power generation at the sites. We can use the electricity from the photovoltaic system directly on site.
Worcester: On the way to more self-generated electricity
The Bosch Home Comfort Group also relies on solar energy in Worcester, England. In August 2023, the installation of a large photovoltaic system on the roof of the Worcester Bosch headquarters was completed. With more than 2,000 modules covering an area of several thousand square meters, the system is already generating 16% of the site's total electricity requirements in the first six months.
By producing its own solar power, Worcester Bosch has already saved 16.4 tons of CO2e in the first quarter of 2024 alone. In addition, the remaining electricity requirements at all Worcester Bosch sites are covered by renewable sources. These measures are a clear commitment to the energy transition and to reducing CO2 emissions.
Visions for the future: Solar energy and green electricity as central pillars
The projects in Wernau, Manisa and Worcester are just the beginning. In addition to the expansion of existing systems, new projects are already in the pipeline in other regions. Photovoltaic systems have already been installed at more than half of the Bosch Home Comfort Group's 17 locations, and four more are planned for the next two years. The aim is to continuously increase the proportion of self-generated renewable electricity in the energy supply and at the same time increase energy efficiency.
With the consistent expansion of solar energy for its own requirements and the use of green electricity at various locations worldwide, the Bosch Home Comfort Group is making an important contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and securing a sustainable energy future.