Vestas by the numbers
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions
As part of its environment initiatives, Vestas has implemented a green building policy, a green car policy and a green electricity policy.
Vestas will henceforth build green in accordance with the environmentally sustainable construction standard LEED. This specifies requirements for factors such as insulation, light, sound, energy types, rain water catchment and water recycling.
All new vehicles bought or leased by Vestas must be environmentally friendly. Diesel cars with particle filters are the preferred choice, as these cars cause less pollution and CO2 emissions than petrol-fuelled cars. Requirements for external transport suppliers will also be sharpened in the years ahead.
Vestas increased its direct CO2 emissions by 2 per cent in 2012, whilst the indirect CO2 emissions decreased by 35 per cent compared to 2011. Comparing Vestas' total CO2 emissions with the total number of MW produced and shipped, Vestas has reduced its CO2 emissions by 35 per cent in relation to 2011. The decrease is driven by the increased of amount of renewable electricity from Vestas' own wind power plants.
On average over the last four quarters, Vestas facilities worldwide succeeded in emitting 15.7 percent less carbon dioxide per wind turbine than they did on average in the previous quarter.
The line chart above shows a combination of direct and indirect emissions. Direct emissions, also known as Scope 1 emissions, constitute CO2 emissions from Vestas-managed facilities. Indirect emissions, also known as Scope 2 emissions, are CO2 emissions from purchased external energy sources, such as district heating and electricity.
A note about the numbers: In most cases, the numbers presented here are based on either annual or four-quarter rolling averages. For example, the total displayed for the second quarter of 2010 actually represents an average of that quarter and the three quarters before it. This is done to smooth out seasonal variations in production and supply, to more accurately show trends in resource use at Vestas. Injuries and employment information are the only aspects not calculated on a rolling basis.