Mercedes-Benz is the latest automotive manufacturer in South Africa to complete a solar energy project. This is in response to the ongoing energy crisis and the brand’s vision of a more sustainable future. The German automaker launched the photovoltaic (PV) project at its East London manufacturing facility in January 2022.
The solar panels installed on the facility’s roof are capable of generating 360-kilowatts of energy. Since the start of the year, the PV project has been feeding electricity into the manufacturing plant to run the equipment, lights and computers. This takes Mercedes-Benz South Africa one step closer to its carbon-neutral goal.
Mercedes-Benz is a direct customer of Formex Industries. The automotive components and assemblies that we manufacture are used on the vehicles made at the brand’s East London facility. This shift toward carbon-neutral energy production is a positive step, not only for Mercedes-Benz’s energy goals but for the entire country too.
Solar energy key to sustainable strategy
Mercedes-Benz is continuously revising its sustainable business strategy and currently has the goal of drastically reducing carbon emissions by 2039. Dubbed ‘Ambition2039’, this strategy also includes an all-electric goal by the end of this decade. That means that all Mercedes-Benz vehicles are likely to be EVs by 2030. Ambition2039 also provisions for a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
There are several key parts to this sustainable strategy. Firstly, renewable energy is to be harnessed for manufacturing and production. This solar energy project is the first step towards achieving this goal. Secondly, the entire vehicle fleet is set to become electric, however, Mercedes-Benz has also said that these EVs should be charged with green energy too.
Next, the brand is currently working on improving EV battery technology to make them hold a charge for longer and speed up the time for recharging. This will improve the ownership of EVs as people will be able to drive further on a single charge and not wait as long to recharge. Lastly, the brand is also increasing its use of recycled materials on and within its vehicles.
Solar energy goals
Mercedes-Benz has stated that its aim is to supply more than 70% of its energy through renewable sources by 2030. This will include the rollout of solar panels and wind turbines at its manufacturing facilities across the globe.
“As Mercedes-Benz, our goal is to make the world’s most desirable cars. The launch of the PV pilot project attests to our commitment to climate protection and the sustainable manufacturing of our products,” says Andreas Brand, CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa.
“We are proud of our successful pilot project here in East London and look forward to actively making a significant contribution to sustainable production and CO2-neutral manufacturing,” he adds.
Mercedes-Benz is on-target to meet its 2030 goals, as well as its Ambition2039 objectives. Solar energy is being installed across South Africa by a number of automotive companies and other large enterprises. This will help to reduce the load on electricity generators and the national grid. For more information about our components and products, please contact us today.
Formex Industries is a metal forming and assembly company that supplies a variety of complex products to the local automotive industry and the export market. The company is based in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole, South Africa’s foremost region for automotive manufacturing and export.
Formex is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier. The company is owned by Deneb Investments Limited – a subsidiary of Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) – one of South Africa’s biggest true B-BBEE companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
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