Copper products manufacturer Wieland Group has officially launched a solar park in Erbach, southern Germany, capable of generating 29 GWh of renewable electricity annually.
The company announced the project on Monday, highlighting a nearly EUR 20 million (USD 21.7 million) investment that includes the installation of approximately 48,000 solar modules, 82 inverters, and 14 transformer systems, alongside the construction of a 110/20 kV substation.
Located on a 24-hectare site about 5 km from Wieland's Ulm headquarters and 15 km from its largest production facility in Vöhringen, the solar park is part of the company's broader commitment to sustainability. Wieland aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by over 46% by 2030 compared to fiscal 2018/19 and ultimately achieve net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2045.
The electricity generated at the Erbach facility will supply around 8% of the total annual energy requirements for all Wieland sites in Germany. In addition to this solar park, the company is also relying on another solar facility currently under construction by energy firm Vattenfall in Nauen, Brandenburg, expected to provide about 46 GWh of electricity annually from 2025, meeting an additional 13% of Wieland's energy needs in Germany.
Looking ahead, Wieland plans to expand its share of renewable energy in its electricity mix, primarily focusing on wind energy projects within the EU. In North America, the company is exploring various options for generating renewable energy internally.
