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We are becoming electrified
ALTANA is leveraging the expertise of regional colleagues to expand renewable energy sources. A model for success.
Heath Whitfield, Operations Manager, ELANTAS in the USA | Lena Neumann, Senior Category Manager Energy, ALTANA
Purchasing global electricity demand from renewable energy sources sounds like mission accomplished. For ALTANA, however, it’s just a milestone and the foundation for building its climate protection ambitions. “We want to drive the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure regionally. The electricity should be produced where it’s consumed. That’s sustainable in the long run,” says Lena Neumann, Senior Category Manager Energy at ALTANA. By 2030, 80 percent of global electricity demand should be met through regional, renewable energy sources. To achieve this, ALTANA focuses on local green electricity contracts and is making substantial investments in expanding its own renewable energy generation facilities. The ALTANA Group already generates green electricity at over 18 sites.
One of these is in the United States, specifically in Schenectady. About ten years ago, the team at ALTANA’s ELANTAS division’s production site began planning and constructing a solar plant. Operations Manager Heath Whitfield was instrumental in driving the project forward: “Commissioning the solar facility was an important step toward reaching our goals. At the same time, it’s just one of many projects. We’re constantly looking for ways to implement measures that improve our site’s energy efficiency.”
Schenectady, USA: About ten years ago, Heath Whitfield was instrumental in driving forward the construction of the first solar plant at the site.
Decentralized structure as a success factor
Through their commitment, Heath Whitfield and his team are making an important contribution to ALTANA’s Keep Changing Agenda for the future. With this, the company focuses on continuous transformation based on a solid foundation of values to develop solutions for future challenges. Regarding the key issue of sustainability, ALTANA takes a holistic approach. The company supports customers in achieving their sustainability goals while leading by example in reducing its own carbon footprint.
A key success factor is the decentralized structure. “Colleagues at the sites know the regional conditions very well and can therefore carry out projects efficiently,” Lena Neumann explains. “Of course, we provide support with implementation and promote knowledge exchange to facilitate sustainable energy projects across the company.” A network of over 60 colleagues is currently pushing forward regional sourcing and in-house green energy production across all divisions.
Together with a network of over 60 colleagues, Lena Neumann is accelerating the regional expansion of renewable energies at ALTANA.
Conviction that inspires
Back in the United States: Heath Whitfield, who has been with the company for 23 years, has big plans. “We’re motivated to expand our sustainability initiatives. We want to further increase our energy efficiency and are also considering expanding our capacity for in-house energy generation.” This conviction is what excites Lena Neumann about the collaboration: “I speak to many colleagues from local sites and the commitment to collaboratively contributing to climate protection is exceptionally strong everywhere.”
Beyond their own sustainability ambitions, the team at the Schenectady site keeps customer goals in mind. Among other things, the approximately 150 colleagues produce innovative insulation systems that help large offshore wind turbines generate electricity reliably.