Photo: @gigafactory_4 via Twitter | Edited
Tesla is planning for the second development phase at Giga Berlin, aiming to double the annual capacity to 1 million vehicles. The company has initiated public consultations required during the approval procedure.
Tesla has seen some rough times trying to start operations at Giga Berlin. The American company had to overcome countless obstacles, from environmentalists scrutinizing every hole it drilled to concerned citizens claiming the factory was draining the local water resources. The gigafactory is yet to reach its planned annual capacity of 500,000 EVs, but Tesla is already planning the next phase. Giga Berlin will be expanded with Phase 2, adding another 500,000 in production capacity for a total of one million units per year.
While this sounds like a positive development, it also means that the whole process that delayed the initial plans will repeat. Tesla will again need approval for the expansion works and is now in the public consultation phase. From July 19 to August 18, the public can read the documentation available online and at authorities such as the State Environment Agency and in town halls. Then they can voice their concerns during a public hearing that would probably take place in October.
It's an excellent opportunity for environmentalists to express their disdain for Tesla's plans in the Brandenburg region. The main problem is that Giga Berlin is partly located in a water protection area, and this causes a lot of friction. The gigafactory expansion will not only need approval for the additional construction works but will also require additional resources, including water and electricity, to produce more vehicles.
According to the plans filed with Brandenburg Environment Ministry, Tesla plans to build another large production hall to house the additional production area. It will also optimize operations at its existing line to increase productivity. As part of the expansion plans, Tesla wants to double the capacity of its battery production facility from 50 GWh to 100 GWh per year.
In its Impact Report 2022, Tesla presented some of the measures it plans to minimize water consumption at Giga Berlin. Impressively, Tesla thinks it can double the gigafactory's capacity without increasing water consumption. To achieve this, Tesla will implement hybrid cooling towers and eliminate quench tanks in casting. It also introduced cascade rinsing systems in the paint shop and battery can wash process.
Further measures will be taken to treat and reuse water. Tesla also plans to capture rainwater, which will be recycled and used for cooling manufacturing equipment. The condensed water from the air conditioning could also be reused in the cooling towers to offset water consumption. Tesla contracted 1.4 million cubic meters of fresh water, which should cover the gigafactory's needs even when Phase 2 is completed.
While this sounds like a positive development, it also means that the whole process that delayed the initial plans will repeat. Tesla will again need approval for the expansion works and is now in the public consultation phase. From July 19 to August 18, the public can read the documentation available online and at authorities such as the State Environment Agency and in town halls. Then they can voice their concerns during a public hearing that would probably take place in October.
It's an excellent opportunity for environmentalists to express their disdain for Tesla's plans in the Brandenburg region. The main problem is that Giga Berlin is partly located in a water protection area, and this causes a lot of friction. The gigafactory expansion will not only need approval for the additional construction works but will also require additional resources, including water and electricity, to produce more vehicles.
According to the plans filed with Brandenburg Environment Ministry, Tesla plans to build another large production hall to house the additional production area. It will also optimize operations at its existing line to increase productivity. As part of the expansion plans, Tesla wants to double the capacity of its battery production facility from 50 GWh to 100 GWh per year.
In its Impact Report 2022, Tesla presented some of the measures it plans to minimize water consumption at Giga Berlin. Impressively, Tesla thinks it can double the gigafactory's capacity without increasing water consumption. To achieve this, Tesla will implement hybrid cooling towers and eliminate quench tanks in casting. It also introduced cascade rinsing systems in the paint shop and battery can wash process.
Further measures will be taken to treat and reuse water. Tesla also plans to capture rainwater, which will be recycled and used for cooling manufacturing equipment. The condensed water from the air conditioning could also be reused in the cooling towers to offset water consumption. Tesla contracted 1.4 million cubic meters of fresh water, which should cover the gigafactory's needs even when Phase 2 is completed.
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