LYNGE, DENMARK – WS Audiology will open an onsite solar park in its global headquarters in Lynge, north of Copenhagen, where more than 5300 solar cells are expected to deliver 2.1 million kWh per year.
“We have set an ambitious goal that all the electricity we consume at all our locations in the world – including manufacturing, offices, and retail stores – must be 100% green by the year 2025 at the latest. I am very pleased that we are taking a big step towards reaching our goal with the onsite solar park at our Danish headquarters”
–Eric Bernard, President & CEO, WS Audiology
The ambition of 100% green electricity consumption is a strategic goal for WS Audiology – not just in Denmark, but also globally. WS Audiology was the first company in the hearing aid industry committing to ambitious climate targets which has now been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, read more here.
Growing a sustainable business
WS Audiology’s characteristic circular building in Lynge has been energy neutral since it was completed in 2010. The building is built with a geothermal system that uses groundwater as a reservoir for heating and cooling.
Together with an associated wind turbine, this has meant green energy for 12 years for the Lynge site. But as the company has grown, the demand for energy has increased – and to meet WS Audiology’s strategic goals, that energy must be green.
“Our purpose at WS Audiology is to ensure Wonderful Sound for All. Today, only a third of people in the world who would benefit from a hearing aid get the help they need. We want to help many more people, and it is of utmost importance to us that we grow in a sustainable way. Hence, the green energy transition is important as well as our efforts towards a circular business model where we reduce the emissions in our value chain,” says Chaojun Li, Global Head of Sustainability, WS Audiology.
WS Audiology has two global Headquarters located in Lynge, Denmark, and Singapore, and more than 40 offices in 130 countries. Currently, 41% of WS Audiology’s electricity consumption is renewable.
Read more about WS Audiology’s sustainability strategy in the Annual Report, which can be found here. Read more about WS Audiology’s Science Based Targets here.
Facts about the solar park in Lynge
- The solar park consists of 5300 solar panels, which are expected to deliver 2.1 million kWh per year. The solar park is expected to be operational during the first quarter of 2023.
- The panels are placed in an east/west facing direction, which provides more energy during off-peak hours, when the price is typically higher and the power less green, rather than providing maximum output in the middle of the day, when the demand for power is lowest.
- Solar parks in Denmark are generally expected to have an energy payback period of 2 years, which means the solar park provides the energy used to produce it during the first 2 years.
- The solar park is established by T&W Medical, the Tøpholm & Westermann families’ holding company, which is the mother company of WS Audiology.
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Approval
WS Audiology’s climate targets have now been approved and published by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
WS Audiology’s science-based carbon emission reduction targets aim to reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% and reach 100% renewable electricity – in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping the global temperature increase under 1.5 °C.
The reduction targets cover both emissions from the company’s own facilities as well as emissions from the value chain.
WS Audiology commits to:
- Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by 2030 from a 2020 base year.
- Increase annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 16% in 2020 to 100% by 2025 and continue sourcing 100% renewable electricity through 2030, and
- Reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 30% by 2030 from a 2021 base year.
WSA’s strategy to meet scope 1 and 2 targets is based on increasing energy efficiency, sourcing renewable electricity, and transitioning to an electric car fleet, while the scope 3 GHG reduction strategy includes working closely with key suppliers to reduce their emissions and improving circularity of our products.
WS Audiology committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in June 2021. Following a thorough process of mapping out how to reduce emissions, the company submitted its targets in July 2022.
About WS Audiology
Formed in 2019, through the merger of Sivantos and Widex, WS Audiology combines over 140 years’ experience in pioneering the use of technology to help people with hearing loss hear the sounds that make life wonderful. With truly differentiated brands like Widex, Signia, Rexton, Audio Service and Vibe, and with diverse assets across wholesale, retail, online, managed care and diagnostic solutions, we are active in over 130 markets. WS Audiology employs 12,000 people and is privately owned by the Tøpholm and Westermann families, as well as funds under the management of EQT. As a global leader, our ambition is to unlock human potential by making wonderful sound part of everyone’s life.
Source: WSA
