After four years and a DKK 6 billion investment in two offshore wind farms, the LEGO Group has achieved its ambition to balance 100% of its energy use with energy from renewable sources. To celebrate, the LEGO Group has built the largest ever LEGO® brick wind turbine, a Guinness World Records™ title, and challenged children around the world to create their own renewable energy solutions.
Since 2012, the LEGO Group has supported the development of more than 160 megawatts of renewable energy. The latest investment is a 25% stake in the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm off the coast of Liverpool, UK. The wind farm, which was officially opened today, will generate clean power for more than 230,000 British households.
“We work to leave a positive impact on the planet and I am truly excited about the inauguration of the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm. This development means we have now reached the 100% renewable energy milestone three years ahead of target. Together with our partners, we intend to continue investing in renewable energy to help create a better future for the builders of tomorrow,” said Bali Padda, CEO of the LEGO Group.
Image caption: The Burbo Bank Extension wind farm is a joint venture between DONG Energy (50%) and its partners PKA (25%) and KIRKBI A/S (25%), parent company of the LEGO Group. © DONG Energy A/S.
The total ouput from the investments by the LEGO Group in renewables now exceeds the energy consumed at all LEGO factories, stores and offices globally. In 2016, more than 360 gigawatt hours of energy were used by the LEGO Group to produce the more than 75 billion LEGO bricks sold around the world during the year.
Reaching the 100% renewable milestone was a target inspired by the LEGO Group’s partnership with the WWF Climate Savers programme. The LEGO Group works with other partners to advocate for investment in renewable energy and has joined the RE100, a global initiative of companies committed to using 100% renewable energy.
Involving and inspiring children
To raise awareness of the importance of renewable energy, the LEGO Group has built the world’s largest LEGO® brick wind turbine, a Guinness World Records™ title. Built with 146,000 LEGO bricks, the wind turbine stands 7.5 metres tall and is a tribute to the record 200 metre tall wind turbines of the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm – the largest windmills in operation globally. From the summer of 2017 the LEGO wind turbine will be located at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, in the UK.
To inspire children to engage in environmental issues, the LEGO Group has invited hundreds of children from the Liverpool area and more than a million children on the LEGO Life social media platform to participate in building challenges. Children are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to build a renewable energy machine that can capture the wind and provide energy to power their lives.
“We see children as our role models and as we take action in reducing our environmental impact as a company, we will also continue to work to inspire children around the world by engaging them in environmental and social issues,” said Bali Padda.
As a part of the activities, children across the world can also join the LEGO Planet Crew on LEGO.com, where they can take part in a mission to help protect the planet for future generations and share their views on the responsibility issues they feel most passionate about.
Further information:
Roar Rude Trangbæk
Senior Media Relations Manager
E-mail: Media@LEGO.com
Ph: +45 79504348
Matthew Whitby
Communication Manager
E-mail: Media@LEGO.com
Ph: +45 795025351
Facts about Burbo Bank Extension
- The Burbo Bank Extension wind farm is a joint venture between DONG Energy (50%) and its partners PKA (25%) and KIRKBI A/S (25%), parent company of the LEGO Group.
- The wind farm is located 7 kilometres off the coast of Liverpool and has a capacity of 258 megawatts, enough to supply renewable energy to 230,000 British households.
- The wind farm consists of 32 MHI Vestas V164-8.0 MW wind turbines.
- KIRKBI A/S invested approximately DKK 3.3 billion (GBP 375 million) in the construction of the wind farm, bringing the total amount invested in building offshore wind power to over DKK 6 billion (GBP 680 million).
Facts about the LEGO Group’s 100% renewable energy milestone
- Since 2012, KIRKBI A/S has invested approximately DKK 6 billion in renewable energy on behalf of the LEGO Group, equivalent to 162 megawatts.
- In addition to Burbo Bank Extension, KIRKBI A/S owns 31.5% of the Borkum Riffgrund 1 offshore wind farm in Germany, which can produce 312 megawatts and provide clean energy for 320,000 households.
- 20,000 solar panels will be installed on the roof of the LEGO® factory in Jiaxing, China. The panels will produce almost six gigawatts of energy per year. This is equivalent to the electricity use of more than 6,000 Chinese households.
