Case study Volkswagen 3/4
VW a penny. David Gustashaw, an energy and utility specialist in VW's plant
infrastructure department, says: "The
project was financed by a third party
and we purchase the entire solar output
through a power purchase agreement."
VW Chattanooga has made a commitment to source 35% of its energy needs
from renewable sources, and Gustashaw
says the remaining 22.5%, not supplied
by the solar array, comes from external
providers through the Green-e renewable
energy certificate accreditation scheme.
Alongside its use of renewable energy, VW has also set targets for reducing its overall electricity use through
the introduction of efficiency measures.
Gustashaw says: "We have an objective
of a 20% reduction by 2018 through our
Mach 18 strategy.
"We achieved a very good reduction in
our first full production year, 2012, and
are looking to achieve our goal through
a balance of equipment-related projects
and behavioural change."
However, despite using other renewable
technologies such as wind and hydroelectric generation at other VW manufacturing sites, there are no plans in
place to increase the amount of renew-
Fuel efficiency: the Golf TDI BlueMotion
able energy generated and consumed at
Chattanooga, for a number of reasons.
Scherelis says: "Half a mile from the
factory we have a nature park, and on
the other side there are two protected
wetlands, so there is no scope for expansion of industrial activity.
"Also, the site here is not so suited to
