Nissan Sunderland - Wind Farm Project

Nissan's Sunderland plant is the largest UK car producer. The production of a significant number of cars undoubtedly has environmental implications- hence a duty for the organisation to build cars by environmentally sustainable means.

The Sunderland plant was first ISO 14001 accredited in 1998. Since production began in 1986, the factory has continually implemented environmentally sustainable initiatives for example:

• waste water;
• coolant and sand recycling;
• maintaining a wetland habitat for wild fowl;
• swapping solvent based paint for water-based; and
• reducing the amount of material sent to landfill.

One of the biggest initiatives developed at the plant launched at the plant, was the installation of a £2.2 million wind farm that will generate 4 Megawatts a year, (which equates to around 5% of the factory’s annual electricity requirement and annual savings of £800,000- with a project pay back in the region of four years).

The wind farm will cut carbon dioxide emissions at power plants supplying Nissan by up to 10,000-tonnes per year.

A screen in main reception shows visitors the turbines working through a live web cam, and also displays how much energy the turbines have produced to date, coupled with financial and CO₂ tonnage savings.

The Sunderland plant is also working towards a target recycling 92.5% of waste and staff are encouraged to separate recyclable rubbish into respective bins and collection points.