SEAT goes solar

Automotive manufacturer SEAT is to save 7,000 tonnes of CO2 a year at its Martorell factory after installing 53,000 solar panels

The SEAT al Sol project at the Barcelona plant covers a 270,000m2 area and generates 15 million kWh a year from solar energy.

The installation reduces annual CO2 emissions from the plant’s production processes by 7,000 tonnes. SEAT says the overhead installation has the added benefit of protecting completed cars against adverse weather conditions.

The completion of the SEAT al Sol project came as parent company, VW Group announced that two-thirds of the €82.5 billion its automotive division plans to invest in the next five years will be channelled into making vehicles more efficient as well as measures to improve the environment performance of its production facilities.

In 2011, VW launched its “Think Blue. Factory” programme under the motto: “More sustainability – less environmental impact”.

The objective of the programme is to continuously reduce the environmental impact of production. By 2018, VW plans to reduce its waste production, water consumption, solvent use and carbon emissions by 25%.