Investment in offshore wind farm lands its first power
KIRKBI A/S, which owns 75% of the LEGO Group, has invested approximately DKK 3bn (EUR 400m) in the construction of an off-shore wind farm in the German North Sea. KIRKBI A/S owns 31.5% of the wind farm’s 78 wind turbines’ total production.
Today, after two years of work, the first turbines are delivering their power into the mainland electricity grid.
”This is a milestone for the LEGO Group. We now see the first results of this long-term investment in renewable energy. The wind farm is tangible evidence of the LEGO Group putting action behind our ambition of making a positive impact on the planet,” says Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, President and Chief Executive Officer of the LEGO Group.
The investment will help enable the LEGO Group to reach its goal of producing more renewable energy than the energy it consumes by 2020. When all 78 wind turbines have been commissioned, the wind farm is capable of producing electricity to the equivalent consumption of approximately 320,000 households.
Copyright of DONG Energy
100% based on renewable energy by 2020
In 2013, the LEGO Group entered into a Climate Savers partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The LEGO Group has, amongst other things, committed itself to balancing its CO2 emissions in tonnes by 2016 through ownership and production of renewable energy, and by increasing its energy efficiency.
”We want to make a positive impact on the world that all children will inherit. We do so primarily through our play materials and their contribution to children's learning and development. We also have an impact by acting as a responsible company, where our ambitious environmental agenda plays a significant role. It is an important milestone that the Borkum Riffgrund 1 wind farm has delivered its first electricity, as this wind farm will help us reach our goal of being based 100 percent on renewable energy by 2020,” says Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, President and Chief Executive Officer of the LEGO Group.
Besides new renewable energy sources, the LEGO Group also works on other activities within the environmental agenda where it has achieved an increase in energy efficiency of more than 30% in the last five years. Another environmental improvement has been made through the introduction of new smaller LEGO boxes in 2014. This has saved approximately 6,000 tonnes of cardboard and reduced the company’s transportation needs by approximately 3,000 trucks which equals an accumulated saving in CO2 emissions of 10,000 tonnes.
Beyond the LEGO Group’s dedication towards reducing its environmental impact it also takes responsibility for product safety, labour rights, employee safety and engagement with the local community where it operates. In this broad responsibility agenda, the construction of the wind farm is a significant contribution.
Facts about Borkum Riffgrund 1
Borkum Riffgrund 1, a joint venture between DONG Energy (50%) and its partners KIRKBI A/S and William Demant Invest A/S (together 50%).
Borkum Riffgrund 1 is located 54 kilometres off the coast, 37 kilometres north of the island Borkum. The wind farm will be operated from DONG Energy’s harbour facility in Norden-Norddeich, Germany.
The wind farm’s 78 turbines will be capable of generating up to 312 megawatts of electricity.
Further information
LEGO Group
The LEGO Group is a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company is owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family who founded it in 1932.
The LEGO Group is engaged in the development of children's creativity through playing and learning. Based on the world-famous LEGO® brick, the company today provides toys, experiences and teaching materials for children in more than 130 countries.
Head office is in Billund, Denmark, and the LEGO Group has subsidiaries and branches throughout the world.
Morten Vestberg
Communications Manager
Tel.: +45 5215 9259
E-Mail: Morten.Vestberg@LEGO.com
Read more about the LEGO Group at www.LEGO.com/responsibility
KIRKBI A/S
KIRKBI A/S is the holding and investment company of the Kirk Kristiansen Family. The activities within the KIRKBI Group are divided into strategic and investment activities.
The strategic activities include ownership of the LEGO trademarks, 75% ownership of the LEGO Group, 29.9% ownership of Merlin Entertainments plc and investments in renewable energy in order to support the LEGO Group’s goal to generate enough renewable energy capacity to meet 100% of the LEGO Group’s energy needs by 2020.
The investment activities include significant long term investments in companies such Falck A/S (27.7% ownership), Minimax Viking (30%), ISS A/S (5.7%) and Matas A/S (13%) as well as real estate investments in Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and UK. In addition to this, the KIRKBI Group manages a portfolio of fixed income instruments, listed equities and private equity funds. KIRKBI has a long-term investment profile and wants to act as a responsible investor with a high ethical standard.
Contact
+45 75338833
kirkbi@kirkbi.dk
Find out more about KIRKBI A/S: http://www.kirkbi.com/en-us
DONG Energy
DONG Energy is one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe. Our business is based on procuring, producing, distributing and trading in energy and related products in Northern Europe. DONG Energy has around 6,500 employees and is headquartered in Denmark. The Group generated DKK 73 billion (EUR 9.8 billion) in revenue in 2013.
DONG Energy in Germany is located in Hamburg. DONG Energy has more than 20 years’ experience in the development, construction and operation of offshore wind farms. Borkum Riffgrund 1 is its first German offshore wind farm project. In this way, the company with the Danish roots is not only supporting the German energy transition but is also providing jobs for the future. With the Borkum Riffgrund 1 Wind Farm, this future has already begun.
Iris Franco Fratini
Manager, Communications & PR
Tel.: +49 40 181 310 – 830
Mob.: +49 160 882 46 87
E-Mail: irfra@dongenergy.de
William Demant Invest A/S
William Demant Invest A/S is a wholly owned subsidiary under the Oticon Foundation. The main purpose of the Oticon Foundation is to secure and expand William Demant Holding A/S, a global market leader within hearing health care. A secondary purpose of the Oticon Foundation is to donate a share of its net income to charter defined causes such as audiological research, education, cultural and social matters. The majority of William Demant Invest A/S’ investments are made with a long-term perspective and with active participation of William Demant Invest A/S.
Charlotte Korsager Winther
Head of Communication & CSR
William Demant Holding A/S
Tel.: +45 3917 7300 / +45 51176774
E-Mail: chw@demant.com