Croda
lundi, 4 janvier 2010
“A wind turbine provides the most feasible option for establishing an effective renewable energy source on our site in Hull and will also reduce energy costs, helping the company maintain its competitive market position in the face of significant UK energy price increases and ensuring the long term success of the site.” Mark Robinson, Operations Director, Croda.
Founded in 1925 to manufacture lanolin from woolgrease and with headquarters still in East Yorkshire, Croda is a world leader in natural based speciality chemicals which are sold to virtually every type of industry. For example, in the personal care market Croda is the world’s largest supplier of lanolin, a key natural ingredient in the manufacture of skincare products and in industrial markets is a world leader providing effects to a wide range of polymers used in today’s plastics and packaging. The company has approximately 3,500 employees, working at 43 sites in 35 countries.
In line with Croda’s position as a global leader in speciality chemicals it takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. The company’s Hull site has developed a strategy to improve the efficiency of its utility usage to achieve a significant reduction in its imported electricity and carbon footprint. It is also exploring the potential use of rape seed meal as a source of energy in the future.
In keeping with this ethos, the company recently installed a two megawatt wind turbine at its Polymer Additives manufacturing plant in Hull. The wind turbine (125m tip height) is the second largest structure in Hull and is reducing the site’s imported electricity demand by 40%. At full output, the electricity generated by the wind turbine will exceed the site’s requirements and be exported to the electricity grid.
Croda also minimises its environmental impact through transport of raw materials. Rape oil is a major raw material for the company’s factory in Hull and is stored in bulk in the city. The normal method of delivery for vegetable oils is by road tanker. However, both Croda’s factory and the storage are alongside the River Hull, so delivery by barge is possible. Throughout the year the factory receives continuous barge deliveries, displacing the need for significant round trips by road tanker and avoiding the consequent traffic congestion and fuel consumption. The barges themselves also minimise their use of fuel by timing their trips up and down river according to the tidal flow.
The installation of the wind turbine is not only a major step towards Croda’s goal of ensuring the site is fully self-sufficient in terms of energy use but is a clear example of the company’s commitment to renewable energy and the reduction of its carbon footprint.