Wind Power Project to Supply Green Energy Directly to Koehler Paper Site in Oberkirch
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Koehler Renewable Energy has taken another important step in its mission to generate more renewable energy from its own facilities than the Koehler Group needs for its paper production operations by 2030. More specifically, its project for directly powering the Koehler Paper site in Oberkirch with self-produced green energy is taking shape: After a detailed analysis, the area on the Schwend ridge between Oberkirch and Kappelrodeck was identified as an ideal site for wind turbines that will be used to power the Oberkirch plant directly. Moreover, a public meeting held by the town council of Oberkirch recently culminated in the decision to allow Koehler Renewable Energy to use the area to set up wind turbines, with the plan being to erect two of them.
Energy security and climate-neutral production
The project will make an important contribution to achieving the Koehler Group’s goal of significantly reducing the CO2 emissions from its paper production operations while simultaneously ensuring that power comes from a reliable, cost-effective, and regional source. This is where the area on the ridge close to the plant in Oberkirch comes in, as it was designated as a priority area for wind power in the corresponding regional plans. In fact, the general suitability of the site was confirmed in the corresponding preliminary survey with the latter’s incorporation into the aforementioned plans. And by directly powering the Koehler Paper plant by connecting the wind turbines directly to it, the company will be making a vital contribution to decarbonizing its production operations while simultaneously boosting the regional creation of value.
“On top of reducing CO2 emissions from our paper production operations, the project is focused on using this direct power to make part of the electricity needed for these operations more affordable and to set it at a fixed price for 25 years. Needless to say, this will also have a positive impact by reducing the load on the grid,” explains Nicolas Christoph, Corporate Director of Wind Power, Solar, Hydro & Business Development at Koehler Renewable Energy.
Moreover, there have already been talks with the municipality of Kappelrodeck to erect at least one additional wind turbine in the bordering district, which could then power the Lenk paper mill with green energy.
