Michelin’s Dundee factory reaches renewable energy milestone

The two turbines, constructed by green energy company Ecotricity, generated more than seven million units (kWh) of electricity last year, up 13% on 2012’s total – the second best year the turbines have had since being installed.

Michelin Dundee factory manager John Reid, said the wind turbines have helped to alleviate the challenge of increased energy costs and allowed the factory to reduce its dependence on the energy grid by producing its own sustainable power.

Reid added: “Last year our wind turbines generated a 13% increase in electricity when compared with 2012, and provided around 25% of the electricity required to power the factory.”

The tyre manufacturer has been working with green energy company, Ecotricity, to lower its reliance on fossil fuels by installing wind farms at some its sites.

In February 2013, Michelin announced that the two new wind turbines at its factory in Ballymena, Ireland, the company’s second wind project with Ecotricity, is expected to save 4,146 tonnes of CO2 per year and cut its energy bills.

UK wind energy generation as a whole broke several generation records in 2013: wind power produced more than 6.1GW of energy at peak in one day in December (the highest wind has produced in one day in the UK) and contributed 22.4% of total UK electricity generation in November of last year.

Leigh Stringer