66 MACHINERY JUN / JUL 2024 • farmers-mart . co . uk
66 MACHINERY JUN / JUL 2024 • farmers-mart . co . uk
CONTINENTAL TYRE PLANT ACHIEVES CO2-NEUTRAL PRODUCTION
CONTINENTAL has announced that its tyre plant in Lousado , Portugal , has become CO2-neutral .
“ This is a significant step to achieving our goal of completely CO2-neutral production and is , in part , due to the generation of steam using an innovative boiler that operates entirely on electricity ,” says Dr . Bernhard Trilken , Head of Manufacturing and Logistics .
Continental uses both self-generated solar power and renewable electricity from the power grid for its steam generation . Prior to this , natural gas was used as a sole energy source for steam generation at the Lousado tyre plant . A high proportion of the energy consumed in tyre
• CO2-neutral production being tested in mega-plant in Lousado , Portugal , with a production capacity of more than 18 million tyres per year .
• An innovative electric boiler can generate steam from green electricity instead of gas .
• By 2040 at the latest , Continental wants to switch production in all tyre plants to CO2-neutral .
production is used to generate steam , which is needed to heat the tyres in a process known as vulcanization . The thermal energy turns the raw rubber into flexible and elastic rubber . With an annual production capacity of 18 million tyres , the plant in Lousado is considered a ‘ mega ’ plant and by 2040 , at the latest , Continental wants to switch all
tyre plants completely to CO2- neutral production processes .
“ In Lousado , we are demonstrating that even very large tyre plants can achieve CO2-neutral production . To do so , the availability of renewable energy sources at competitive prices is crucial . We are preparing all our plants so that they can use as much renewable energy as possible .”
Continental tyre plant in Lousado , Portugal .
The new electric steam boiler converts solar and other green electricity into steam with almost no losses . Water is pumped from the bottom of the boiler to the top , where it is sprayed onto electrodes . Electric current flows through the water jets and creates heat inside the water until it evaporates to steam .
Dr . Bernhard Trilken , Head of Manufacturing and Logistics at Continental Tyres .
A conventional gas boiler will continue to be available in addition to the new electric steam boiler . This allows Continental to react flexibly to the fluctuating availability of renewable energies and other environmental factors . “ The commissioning of our electric steam boiler in Lousado is the start of an exciting learning curve ,” concludes Dr . Trilken
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