Lenovo’s European manufacturing facility to be powered by solar panels

A new Lenovo manufacturing facility in Hungary that will build server infrastructure, storage systems and high-end PC workstations will run on solar panels with a capacity of 0.5 megawatts – enough energy to power the equivalent of a small village, the company announced on Wednesday.

Lenovo officially opened the doors to its first in-house manufacturing facility in Europe on Wednesday, with the factory focusing on customers throughout the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.

Apart from the green energy solar panels, the new purpose- built building also boasts devices that dramatically reduce the freight miles its products incur, providing more efficient and sustainable transportation options. This combined with innovative manufacturing processes, such as Lenovo’s patented low-temperature solder process, will help Lenovo achieve its climate goals, the company said in a statement.

Companies keen to curb energy expenses

As factories and warehouses typically consume large amounts of electricity and require more energy for lighting, temperature control and production equipment, the usage is a significant contributor to operating expenses.

Companies in Europe, Asia and the Americas have started harnessing the power of renewable energy by adding solar panels to their factory and warehouse roofs – allowing the facilities to produce their own power on-site virtually for free.

“With our manufacturing facility in Hungary officially open, we’ve reached a profound milestone in our global manufacturing network optimisation and evolution,” Francois Bornibus, Senior Vice President and EMEA President at Lenovo, said in a statement.

“As our business continues to grow around the world, this incredible new facility will play a key role in our plans to ensure future success and bring smarter technology for all to Europe more sustainably, quickly and efficiently,” he added.