Conti achieves CO2-neutral tire production at Portugal plant

Hanover, Germany – Continental AG has been able to produce CO2-neutral tires at its manufacturing plant in Lousado, Portugal, since the beginning of the year, the group reported.

According to a 16 May announcement, the site is using an electric boiler to generate steam for tire production, supported by self-generated solar power and renewable electricity purchased from the grid.

Prior to this, the facility used natural gas as sole energy source for steam generation, which accounts for a large proportion of the energy used in tire curing.

The Lousado facility has been described by Continental as a ‘mega factory’, with the capacity to produce 18 million units of tires per year.

The achievement, Continental said, is a milestone in meeting the group’s target of 100% CO2-neutral tire production by 2040, with a mid-term aim of reducing energy consumption by 20% in 2030, compared to 2018.

"In Lousado, we are demonstrating that even very large tire plants can achieve CO2-neutral production,” explained Dr Bernhard Trilken, head of manufacturing and logistics at Continental Tires.

To do so, the Continental official went on to say, “the availability of renewable energy sources at competitive prices is crucial."

According to Trilken, Continental is preparing all of its plants to use “as much renewable energy as possible.”

The commissioning of the electric steam boiler in Lousado will help the group as a “learning curve."