- Plant producing e-mobility products uses 3,400 solar modules to generate electricity
- No fossil fuels: Heat pumps reduce heating costs by 50 per cent
- A model plant for global ZF production network
After a renovation period of less than 18 months, ZF’s power electronics production site in Klášterec nad Ohří in the Czech Republic is re-opening as its first zero-emission manufacturing facility. The plant is part of the Electrified Powertrain Technology division, supporting the company’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality across all value chains by 2040. It will be used as the blueprint for all ZF plants worldwide. The technology company is gradually shifting to sustainably generated energy at all locations, increasing the energy efficiency of processes, electrifying a significant proportion of its products and utilising recycled materials.
One of the primary challenges is to convert existing ZF plants around the world so that they can be operated with climate-neutral energy from now on. “The sustainable transformation at the Klášterec location is ground-breaking for our entire production network and helps us to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says Stephan von Schuckmann, member of the ZF Board of Management. To build strong, sustainable foundations it’s important to equip plants with the ability to generate electricity. In Klášterec, this was accomplished by installing 3,400 solar modules on the campus, meeting roughly 20 per cent of the plant’s annual electricity requirements.
Any electricity that isn’t generated internally is purchased from renewable sources – mainly wind and hydroelectric power. “Klášterec is our benchmark,” emphasizes Dhanashree Kad, Head of Sustainability at ZF’s Electrified Powertrain Technology Division. As early as 2025, five years ahead of plan, all ZF locations will be fully powered by green electricity, which will be generated in-house or obtained through contracts with renewable energy providers. Additionally, the Czech e-mobility plant’s fossil fuel-dependent gas heating system has been replaced by heat pumps, reducing the plant’s overall annual heating costs by 50 per cent. During colder months, the plant uses the naturally cold external air (free cooling) to cool down the technology within the facility. Various measures for improved thermal insulation and heat recovery round off this local climate concept.
ZF has operated a plant in Klášterec – which is roughly 100 kilometers northwest of Prague – since 1992. Today, the newly remodelled plant has nearly 700 employees and produces power electronic components for electric motors produced by ZF plants in Germany and Serbia. Customers include international car manufacturers.
More information about ZF
ZF is a globally active technology group and supplies systems for the mobility of passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. ZF makes vehicles see, think and act: In the four technology fields of Vehicle Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving and Electromobility, ZF offers comprehensive product and software solutions for established vehicle manufacturers as well as for emerging providers of transportation and mobility services. ZF electrifies vehicles of various categories and contributes with its products to reducing emissions, protecting the climate and making mobility safer.
In 2022, ZF generated sales of €43.8 billion with around 165,000 employees worldwide. The company is represented at 168 production locations in 32 countries.
Further press information and images can be found at: www.zf.com