ROCKWOOL will convert two of its Roermond production lines to use innovative electric melting technology based on low-carbon electricity. Upon completion, we expect CO2 emissions to fall by as much as 80 percent for these two lines and by more than half for the factory overall.
The conversion to the electrified melting processes is expected to be completed in the period 2025-2027. The technical work is already well under way, as is the public utility work to expand the grid connection capacity at the Roermond factory, the process for which we initiated several years ago.
"We are proud of the significant contribution that the electrification of both lines makes to our efforts to achieve the climate goals," said Jos Dumoulin, Technical Director at ROCKWOOL. "This accelerates our journey to reduce our carbon footprint and strengthens our market position as a sustainable company."
The implementation of this innovative technology is carried out with the support of the Top Sector Energy Subsidy of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
“For Grodan, this electrification is a big step to reduce the footprint of our stone wool growing media" says Hub Janssen, Managing Director at Grodan. “Within Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), our stone wool growing media today already substantially reduce the use of resources such as water in the cultivation process. The electrification further minimises the stone wool growing media footprint, making this an even more viable substrate of the future”.
ROCKWOOL is committed to taking further steps towards a low-carbon economy. In addition to the development and implementation of new technologies, the company is in consultation with the Dutch government to ensure the availability of low-carbon energy, either in the form of electricity or hydrogen.
With approximately 1,200 employees, ROCKWOOL is one of the larger employers in Central Limburg and makes a substantial contribution to the climate and energy transition with its products. This makes it part of the solution to the current climate challenges. The Grodan products produced in Roermond are mainly used in CEA in North West Europe.
About Grodan
Grodan is the global leader in supplying soilless rootzone management solutions for Controlled Environment Agriculture. These solutions are applied to the cultivation of vegetables, medicinal crops and flowers. Grodan was founded in 1969 and is active in more than seventy countries worldwide. The head office is located in Roermond, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit www.grodan.com.
Additional information
ROCKWOOL Sustainability Report 2023
Contact
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ellen Seelen, Corporate Communication Manager
+31 (0)6 34 55 70 48
