To create true zero emission technology, electricity must come
from renewable sources – and now Ford is taking the lead with
wind power. The company has put two giant wind turbines, each
standing more than 150 metres tall, into service at its Ford
Genk plant in Belgium. The turbines were installed by
Electrabel, a local energy company, with each having an output
of 2MW of power. The turbines in Belgium are expected to meet a
significant part of the plant's power needs, where it produces
the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-MAX models. Genk is not the first Ford
of Europe plant to use renewable electricity – the Dagenham
Diesel Centre in the UK was actually the world's first
automotive plant to meet all its electricity needs from two
giant on-site turbines which were installed five years ago.
Indeed a third turbine is expected to be added in Dagenham next
year to ensure it remains 100 per cent powered by wind
electricity following the installation of a new 1.4/1.6litre
engine production line. The Dunton Technical Centre,