Audi HQ Gets Solar Roof

The great effort made to protect the environment (read cost cutting measures) from the automotive world were once again brought into the spotlight by German carmaker's Audi announcement that its Ingolstadt headquarters will be fitted with photovoltaic modules.

The surface which will be covered by these modules, provided by Green City Energy, will stretch for 11,600 square meters (124,861 square feet) and is expected to generate 1,000 MWh of electricity this way each year.

In addition to the roof areas, photovoltaic panels will be installed on a parking deck at Technical Development and on another one to the south of the plant premises, with all of them expected to be operational and linked into the power grid as soon as early 2010.

“With our commitment, we want to boost photovoltaics as a significant form of environmentally friendly energy production, while at the same time proving our ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in this field as well,” Peter Kossler, Ingolstadt plant manager said.

“We will generate more than 1,000 MWh of electricity this way each year, which equates to the consumption of 220 four-person households. “The photovoltaic systems in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm are a key part of our environmental strategy.”

Earlier in October, Audi announced the creation of the Audi Environmental Foundation, an organization which will benefit from an initial endowment of 5 million euros. Its main goal is to "unify our worldwide environmental-protection measures" and "make a substantial contribution to sustainable corporate operations.”