From replacing fossil fuel cars and forklifts to phasing out natural gas and installing heat pumps powered by renewable electricity, NKT’s power cable accessories site in Nordenham, Germany, has become the company’s first zero carbon factory. This milestone marks an important step towards achieving complete zero-emission operations across the business in line with the company’s strategy and goals.
NKT has made steady progress in decarbonising its factories over several years, and a portfolio of initiatives has been implemented to achieve the target of zero-emission operations across all sites.
Now, the first factory – the medium‑voltage cable accessories site in Nordenham, Germany – has reached this goal by phasing out natural gas and now operates with zero carbon emissions in Scopes 1 and 2.
- We are very pleased with this achievement, which marks an important milestone in our decarbonisation efforts as a company. The consumption of natural gas is a significant contributor to our Scope 1 emissions, and it is essential for us to phase it out and adopt zero-emission alternatives, says Anthony Abbotts, VP and Head of Sustainability at NKT.
From electric cars to heat pumps
The first initiatives focused on replacing fossil-fuel-driven company cars and forklifts, with the final vehicle replaced in 2024. Since then, much of the attention has been on phasing out natural gas used for heating the factory, which was the final step in becoming a zero-carbon factory.
- The transition to heat pumps requires a range of adjustments, as we need solutions specifically designed for industrial purposes, with a heating capacity of up to 210 kW. It also requires an upgrade of the electrical grid and new heating radiators designed for use with heat pumps, explains Matthias Schaber, Head of Sustainability, Accessories. He adds:
- This is a significant step forward for our operations, and our carbon emissions savings will amount to around 576 tonnes of CO₂e each year, which is a notable achievement. With this, we are also supporting our customers in achieving their decarbonisation targets.
The project also includes the installation of several energy-efficiency improvements, such as heat exchangers connected to the injection moulding machines, enabling the factory to reuse process “waste” heat.
All NKT production sites are powered by renewable electricity. In February, NKT and Uniper signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for electricity supplied from Uniper’s newly developed photovoltaic (PV) facility in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The renewable energy will support NKT’s production sites in Cologne as well as in Nordenham, which is located close to the PV installation.
About NKT in Nordenham
About NKT
NKT connects a greener world with high-quality power cable technology and plays a key role as the world moves towards clean energy. NKT designs, manufactures and installs low-, medium- and high-voltage power cable solutions enabling reliable transmission of energy. Since 1891, NKT has innovated the power cable technology, building the infrastructure from the first light bulbs to the megawatts created by renewable energy today. NKT is headquartered in Denmark, operates from more than 30 locations worldwide, and employs 6,500 people globally. NKT is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen and realised a revenue of EUR 3.6 billion in 2025. NKT - We connect a greener world. www.NKT.com.
Contact
Christoffer Hellmann, Head of Media Relations & Lead Communications Advisor
+45 2529 1784 / [email protected]