Rolls-Royce procures CO2-free electricity from Stadtwerke Ulm

Rolls-Royce has reached a long-term power purchase agreement with Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm (SWU) for the annual purchase of around 20,000MWh of CO₂-free electrical energy generated by hydropower.

Sustainable hydropower

The power purchase agreement (PPA) is characterized by a long delivery period of five years, guaranteed conditions and sustainably generated electricity. The electricity comes entirely from the Donaustetten hydropower plant in South Germany. By using electricity from Ulm, Rolls-Royce expects to cut its carbon emissions by around 7,000 tons every year.

“With this partnership, we are contributing to the local energy transition. And by sourcing electricity from hydropower, we are further increasing the proportion of renewable energy in our electricity mix, in line with our strategic goal of significantly reducing our CO₂ emissions,” explained Bernd Baader, head of engine assembly plants and infrastructure at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. As part of the partnership, Rolls-Royce is not only securing CO₂-free electricity, but also stable energy conditions that offer long-term planning security.

“Our hydropower plants have stood for clean and reliable energy for decades. With this contract, we are helping Rolls-Royce to significantly reduce its carbon footprint,” explained Klaus Eder, managing director of SWU. “Such partnerships are essential to actively drive forward the transition to a climate-neutral economy.”

Local energy transition

For Rolls-Royce, the partnership with Stadtwerke Ulm is another milestone in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its own plants. Three microgrids at the plants in Friedrichshafen, Augsburg and Aiken/USA, which network photovoltaic systems with battery containers and combined heat and power plants, are already ensuring an efficient and climate-friendly energy supply, the auto maker reports.

The company is working with local partners to increase the feed-in of electricity from renewable sources into the grid in the vicinity of the plants. Two solar parks near the Power Systems headquarters in Friedrichshafen have been supplying CO₂-free electricity since 2022 (1.6MWp in Ilmensee and 3.6MWp in Tengen).

In related news, Italian shipping company Liberty Lines recently launched a hybrid fast ferry in Trapani, Sicily, powered by a mtu hybrid propulsion system from Rolls-Royce. Click here to read the full story.