Mercedes to build own solar farm to tackle energy cost crisis
Mercedes to build own solar farm to tackle energy cost crisis
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed radical plans to create a solar farm in order to power the team's Brackley factory.
The move would help the Silver Arrows' push for net-zero sustainability whilst also relieving the strain of soaring energy prices in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
With a cost cap of only $140million, teams were given a compromised break in the budget to tackle the inflation, though further hikes are expected in October this year and January to start 2023.
At present, the Mercedes High Performance Powertrains facility already operates via solar power and a CCHP [combined cooling heat and power] system.
Explaining his team's situation regarding Brackley which operates under conventional energy means, Wolff said: "We have tripled our energy costs in Brackley.
"We are talking about millions [of pounds] - two to six million alone in energy costs. Charters and air freight have gone up tremendously.
"I tried to see, for us as a high-tech industry that the positive impulse, we will be creating a massive solar field to provide us - and others - with energy.
"Even if today we are being supplied by 100 per cent green energy, the cost to be emission neutral and CO2 neutral... we are taking green energy from somebody else because there isn't enough."
Asked to clarify if it was the team that would aim to build the solar farm, Wolff replied: "That's the plan. We have set ourselves quite ambitious targets.
"We will be building our own solar farm. We spent this year, more than one million offsetting sustainable aviation fuel and we will continue to do so.
"But the short-to-mid term target is to have our own solar field and that would have amortised itself over 20 years.
"With increased energy prices you could argue that whatever the energy price development is will be much shorter."
On when it could be energised and integrated into its power system, he explained: "Well you need to get all the council approvals."
Mercedes announce staff aid for cost-of-living crisis
Whilst energy prices have affected the F1 operation, Mercedes has not lost sight of the cost-of-living crisis affecting millions of people in the United Kingdom.
As such, Wolff has also revealed plans to assist those in the lowest pay brackets at the team to battle the rising costs.
"In terms of our people, we understand that especially the lower-tiered salaries are under extreme pressure because energy costs are a big part of their income," said Wolff.
"We are going to react and find ways to compensate the relative loss of purchasing power."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- 6 minutes ago
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Today 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 1 hour ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- 2 hours ago
Adrian Newey: The life and career of Red Bull's departing genius
- 2 hours ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
- 3 hours ago
- 2
Related news
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
Marko reveals Vettel requirements for stunning F1 comeback
Fierce Hamilton F1 rival raises timing issue for Ferrari move
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860