Proven successes: Voith publishes its 2021 Sustainability Report

Consistent actions lead to climate neutrality

In respect of its own sustainability, Voith reached a major milestone at the beginning of the year. Since January 1, 2022, Voith has been operating climate neutrally at all of its sites worldwide, making it a pioneer in the international plant and mechanical engineering industry. This was achieved through numerous measures to increase energy efficiency. Since fiscal year 2011/12, for example, Voith has reduced its own energy consumption by 130 GWh, almost a third, through measures such as using LEDs, upgrading buildings to make them more energy efficient, and/or recovering process heat. For the next few years, Voith is striving to make further energy consumption savings of at least 2.5 percent per year.

To achieve its climate neutral status by the beginning of 2022, Voith increased its use of electricity from renewable sources in the last fiscal year. As noted as an objective in the Sustainability Report just published, in the current fiscal year, the company almost doubled the proportion of green electricity in the Voith energy mix on a year-on-year basis, increasing it to 87 percent. To achieve this objective, Voith adjusted its criteria for purchasing electricity: Whenever possible, any purchased electricity should be from 100% renewable sources with preference to electricity from hydropower and no electricity from nuclear power.

Voith also doubled the amount of self-generated electricity from renewable sources compared with the previous year, increasing it to 6 GWh. This was achieved in part through new solar electricity generation projects at Voith sites in Austria (Laakirchen, Frankenmarkt, Wimpassing, Sankt Georgen), the Netherlands (Twello), and China (Shanghai). At the beginning of this year, in addition to the existing photovoltaic facilities in Faridabad and Vadodara, a third system went into operation in Noida, India. Other solar power projects are being planned and include two German sites, at Kiel and Rutesheim. By the end of fiscal year 2026/27, the amount of self-generated electricity from renewable sources at all Voith locations worldwide is to be increased to 16 GWh.

Since fiscal year 2016/17, Voith has reduced and nearly halved its CO2 emissions to 86,000 t by the current 2021/2022 fiscal year. By fiscal year 2049/50, Voith aims to reduce the amount of offset CO2 emissions to a minimum by means of further savings in fossil energies and through self-generation.

Voith helps customers achieve their climate goals

Already, Voith products avoid more CO2 emissions than they emit in operation. This was confirmed by a TÜV-verified analysis of Voith products that were launched in the market in fiscal year 2019/20 and their potential use. According to the report, Voith products achieve annual CO2 savings of almost 3 million tons, compared to 2.2 million tons CO2 emissions produced. Products for regenerative energy generation are a major factor in this result. This refers in particular to components for hydropower plants that have minimal CO2 emissions. Equally positive is the business in technologies for wind turbine generators that was further strengthened through Voith’s recent acquisition of the Austrian Elin Group.

In other markets, Voith is rigorously pursuing its pathway to decarbonization. In the case of paper machines, the focus is on technologies for energy efficient and resource-conserving paper production. Voith is also working intensively on alternative drive systems for low-emission mobility, whether for rail, heavy goods vehicles, or the shipping industry.

The latest Voith Sustainability Report is available on the Voith website as a PDF download in English: Download Voith Sustainability Report 2021