Author: pr-moritz
Last saved by: Roland Birkhoff
Company: Bayer
Document comments: V-2024-03-05

Milestone in reducing the CO_2 footprint:
Bayer signs supply contract for electricity from renewable energy sources with Wuppertaler Stadtwerke
Contract secures electricity from 100 percent renewable energy sources for several Bayer sites - 120 GWh per year

Wuppertal/Leverkusen, April 19, 2024 - Bayer AG has signed a long-term supply agreement for electricity from renewable energy sources with Wuppertaler Stadtwerke (WSW), the public utility company of Wuppertal in North Rhein-Westphalia, Germany. The contract underlines Bayer's global commitment to sustainability. 

Under this supply agreement, WSW will deliver over 120 GWh of wind and/or solar power from German wind and solar parks to Bayer. This is equivalent to the annual power consumption of around 30,000 households. Thanks to this agreement, Bayer’s sites in Darmstadt, Weimar, Bitterfeld, Bergkamen, Berlin and Wuppertal will obtain 100 percent of their purchased electricity from renewable energy sources. The delivery will be supplied on the basis of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), which guarantee a long-term supply of electricity from renewable energy sources and incentivize the financing and construction of new power generation plants. 

“The agreement with Wuppertaler Stadtwerke is another milestone on the way to reducing our carbon footprint,” explains Matthias Berninger, Head of Public Affairs, Science, Sustainability & HSE at Bayer. “Last year, we signed a comprehensive agreement in the USA that will enable us to purchase 60 percent of the electricity we buy in the USA from renewable energy sources in the future. I am delighted that we have found a good partner in Germany with Wuppertaler Stadtwerke.” 

“Bayer has been working together with WSW in a spirit of trust for many years in the area of energy supply. I am happy that we are further expanding this partnership and that WSW will be accompanying us on our way to a sustainable energy supply in the future,” says Maik Eckelmann, Head of the Elberfeld Supply Centre.

WSW likewise welcomes the substantial expansion of the partnership with Bayer. “Partnerships like this help us actively drive forward the shaping of the energy transition,” emphasizes WSW CEO Markus Hilkenbach. “I would like to express my sincere thanks for the trust and good cooperation. As pioneers of the energy and transport transition, we have made it our mission to develop sustainable and innovative products for the future and thus take responsibility for environmental and climate protection.” 

In line with the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming, Bayer has committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to make its own business activities climate-neutral by 2030. As an important contribution, 100 percent of purchased electricity is to come from renewable energy sources by 2030. Bayer's reduction targets have been confirmed by the Science Based Targets initiative. This initiative supports the private sector in its ambitious climate action by helping companies set science-based targets to reduce their emissions. In addition, based on the guidelines of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Bayer has committed to meeting the highest standards for electricity from renewable energy sources. 

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Contact for media inquiries:
Marc de Bruyn, Phone +49 175 3047187
Email: marc.debruyn@bayer.com

Find more information at www.bayer.com.
Follow us on twitter.com/bayer

mbo	(2024-0073E)

Forward-Looking Statements 
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.