BMW Green Factory in Leipzig
0BMW 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.