LEGO Reaches Renewable Target Ahead of Schedule

Having supported the development of more than 160 megawatts of renewable energy since 2012, the LEGO Group has achieved its 100% renewable energy target three years ahead of schedule, the Danish toy manufacturing giant has announced.

The company’s latest renewable energy investment was a 25% stake in the Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Liverpool, England. The project was officially inaugurated this week, Solar Industry reported.

“This development means we have now reached the 100% renewable energy milestone three years ahead of target,” said Bali Padda, chief executive officer of the LEGO Group. “Together with our partners, we intend to continue investing in renewable energy to help create a better future for the builders of tomorrow.”

According to the company, the total output from the LEGO Group’s investments in renewables now exceeds the energy consumed at all LEGO factories, stores and offices globally. In 2016, LEGO used more than 360 gigawatt-hours of energy to produce more than 75 billion LEGO bricks sold during the year.

To celebrate the milestone, the LEGO Group has constructed what it calls the largest ever LEGO brick wind turbine, establishing a Guinness World Records title. Built with 146,000 LEGO bricks, the wind turbine, standing 7.5 meters tall, is a tribute to the record 200-meter wind turbines of the Burbo Bank Extension. Starting this summer, the LEGO turbine will be situated at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort in the UK.

Since 2012, KIRKBI A/S, parent company of the LEGO Group, has invested approximately 6 billion Danish krones (approximately $903.5 million) in renewable energy on behalf of the LEGO Group. In addition to the Burbo Bank Extension, KIRKBI A/S owns 31.5% of the Borkum Riffgrund 1 offshore wind farm in Germany.

Further, LEGO is planning to install 20,000 solar panels on the roof of its factory in Jiaxing, China. The panels are expected to produce almost 6 GW of energy per year.