Lenzing Boosts Renewable Energy Portfolio With WLK Energy Deal
Lenzing, a global specialty fibre supplier, has finalized a 15-year supply agreement with Austrian electricity producer WLK energy for the acquisition of approximately 13 megawatts of wind power. This move underscores Lenzing’s dedication to climate protection and the energy transition, as well as its commitment to a stable and diverse electricity supply. The contract, effective from the first quarter of 2025, involves sourcing power from the new Engelhartstetten wind farm.
The wind farm’s construction is a collaborative effort with partners, including WLK energy, based in Untersiebenbrunn, Lower Austria. The farm, featuring eleven turbines with a combined output of around 45 megawatts, will exclusively produce about 13 megawatts for Lenzing’s Upper Austria site. This amount is equivalent to the annual electricity needs of approximately 10,000 households in Austria. The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction initiation was held on November 9, 2023, with representatives from politics and business in attendance.
Christian Skilich, a member of the Lenzing Group’s Management Board, emphasizes the pivotal role of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power and biomass, in their corporate strategy. The Engelhartstetten wind farm not only contributes significantly to Lenzing’s decarbonization efforts but also enhances their independence from the global energy market, providing increased planning security through strong partnerships.
Lenzing has been at the forefront of sustainability, setting a target in 2019 to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This commitment has received recognition from the Science Based Targets Initiative. In 2022, Lenzing, in collaboration with Verbund, inaugurated Upper Austria’s largest open-space photovoltaic plant. Additionally, the company signed an electricity supply contract for photovoltaic energy with green electricity producers Enery and Energie Steiermark.
