
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-m tall and is a tribute to the record 200-m tall wind turbines of the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm.
Since 2012, the LEGO Group has supported the development of more than 160 MW 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 recently began operations, 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,” said Bali Padda, CEO of the LEGO Group. “Together with our partners, we intend to continue investing in renewable energy to help create a better future for the builders of tomorrow.”
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.
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 MW.
- 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 MW 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 6 GW of energy per year. This is equivalent to the electricity use of more than 6,000 Chinese households.
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 km 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).
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects