Koehler Paper and steel producer Badische Stahlwerke (BSW) have partnered with the Rhine port of Kehl to study the feasibility of harvesting wind energy at port facilities.
The two companies, alongside the Port of Kehl Administration, launched the joint feasibility study with the objective to find out whether a wind power plant can be constructed at the facilities of the Rhine port of Kehl to supply the operational energy required by the two companies ’sites in Kehl. Koehler Renewable Energy and green energy company Ökostromgruppe Freiburg will provide support for the project.
Energy costs in Germany have risen drastically in the last two years – a huge challenge for energy intensive companies like Koehler Paper and Badische Stahlwerke, especially given the intense international competition both companies face. At the same time, both companies need to source a significant quantity of electricity from renewables to meet the climate goals of the German national government and the government of the state of Baden-Württemberg, in addition to the self-imposed climate goals of the companies themselves.
The feasibility study is scheduled to last through to the summer of 2025. If the results are positive, Ökostromgruppe Freiburg and Koehler Renewable Energy expect to submit an application for the construction of a wind power plant by the end of 2025.
Andreas Volkert, managing director at Badische Stahlwerke, said: “As an electric steel plant on the road to climate neutrality, we depend on a sufficient supply of green energy at competitive prices. So, I'm very excited about the project we've undertaken with Koehler Paper and the Port of Kehl Administration. If constructing a wind power plant at the Rhine port of Kehl proves feasible, it would be an important step toward securing our energy supply and toward CO2-neutral steel production.”
The feasibility study also includes an analysis of noise emissions and economic viability.
A species protection assessment and an environmental impact study have already been commissioned for the project. Wind measurements are scheduled to start in June.
