Outlook
Energy
WACKER is continuing to improve its energy efficiency. Due to the recent acquisition of the silicon-metal plant in Holla (Norway), primary-energy consumption and thus carbon dioxide emissions and electricity consumption are expected to rise in 2011. Our electricity consumption will also increase once the Poly 9 expansion stage comes on stream in Nünchritz.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By the end of 2011, we will for the first time record our indirect greenhouse gas emissions (attributable to bought-in energy, according to Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2). In the medium term, we also intend to measure Scope 3 emissions as per the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. These include all emissions generated along the supply chain (e.g. by suppliers or through the disposal and transportation of products).
Emissions Trading
The necessary emissions certificates have been allotted to us free of charge for the 2008–2012 trading period. So far, WACKER has not been adversely affected by emissions trading. At this stage, it is difficult to gauge how emissions trading will be implemented from 2013. However, we assume that, in the medium term, we will incur additional financial costs as a result of emissions trading. WACKER has installed an early warning system which enables us to respond quickly if our carbon credits are insufficient to cover the emissions produced.
Biodiversity
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development passed the Convention on Biological Diversity. In May 2011, the EU Commission published a biodiversity strategy to 2020. The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) is preparing a related policy document, to which WACKER, as a VCI member, is contributing.
Degradation of Pollutants
Since 2010, we have been investigating whether pollutants (solvent residues) in the groundwater can be broken down by naturally occurring microorganisms at our Nünchritz site. We expect to receive the test results in 2011.
New Goal
Calculate indirect emissions from the purchase of energy (Scope 2 emissions as per Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
Corporate entity: Groupwide
Deadline: 2011
Goals 2007/2008
Reduce specific energy consumption by 10 percent (referenced to 2006)
Corporate entity: Burghausen and Nünchritz sites
Deadline: 2009
Implementation status: Goal not achieved. Although energy consumption fell in many areas, it varied considerably due to differential capacity utilization at individual production facilities. In 2009, the Nünchritz plant saved more than 30 percent energy per metric ton siloxane compared with 2006. Specific energy consumption rose by 24 percent at the Burghausen plant. This is due to the significant shift toward energy-intensive polysilicon production in our product mix. Moreover, underutilization of many production facilities during the economic crisis had a negative impact.
Certify key production subsidiaries as national companies with low environmental impact (certification carried out by the Environmental Protection Bureau, China): Wacker Chemicals (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., Wacker Chemicals Fumed Silica (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., Wacker Polymer Systems (Nanjing) Co., Ltd.
Corporate entity: WACKER Greater China
Deadline: 2010
Implementation status: Goal mainly reached. All three production subsidiaries fulfill the requirements for certification (e.g. final acceptance by the local environmental bureau and ISO 14001 certification). One production subsidiary has already passed the final audit; the authorities are still conducting their review at the other two subsidiaries.
Increase the number of reusable freight containers used for 300 mm wafers from 20 to 30 percent (referenced to 2008)
Corporate entity: Siltronic’s Burghausen, Freiberg and Singapore sites
Deadline: 2010
Implementation status: Goal surpassed. Since mid-2010 we have been shipping around 50 percent of our 300 mm wafers from Burghausen, Freiberg and Singapore in reusable containers.
Expand polysilicon capacity to 35,000 metric tons per year. In the form of photovoltaic modules, this amount of silicon could prevent the release of up to 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of a photovoltaic module (up to 30 years)
Corporate entity: Groupwide
Deadline: 2011
Implementation status: In 2010, WACKER produced 30,000 metric tons of hyperpure polysilicon. We are increasing capacity at our Burghausen site to 37,000 metric tons per year (as of Q1 2011). Once the Poly 9 expansion stage goes on stream in Nünchritz in 2011, together with the new production facility in Cleveland (Tennessee, USA), WACKER’s total capacity for hyperpure polysilicon will rise to 67,000 metric tons a year by 2014. In the form of photovoltaic modules, this amount of silicon could prevent the release of up to 380 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of a photovoltaic module.