Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has entered a three-year agreement with VERBUND, Austria’s leading energy provider and a major European hydropower producer, to source green electricity for its German production facilities. The partnership marks a significant step in reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
Under the contract, VERBUND will supply around 200,000 MWh of electricity between 2026 and 2028 from hydropower plants located on the Inn River in Bavaria, Germany. The renewable energy will power LANXESS sites in Bergkamen, Bitterfeld, Brunsbüttel, Mannheim and Wietmarschen. Compared to the standard German electricity mix, this transition is expected to cut approximately 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, supporting LANXESS’ target of achieving climate-neutral production by 2040.
Supporting Climate Targets
LANXESS highlighted the need for reliable round-the-clock energy for its continuous production processes, noting that hydropower provides both supply security and sustainability. VERBUND emphasised the rising demand for green electricity and its role in helping industrial partners meet climate commitments. Through its Climate Transition Plan, VERBUND is pursuing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while enabling customers to lower their environmental impact.
VERBUND’s Bavarian Hydropower Operations
VERBUND operates 22 run-of-river power plants across Bavaria and the Bavarian-Austrian border, with an installed capacity of 1,040 MW and annual generation of 5.9 TWh, including 4.0 TWh dedicated to Bavaria. The company has already invested or is executing projects worth about €600 million to strengthen regional energy production, with a further €1 billion in projects under planning or approval.
Environmental stewardship remains a priority, with measures such as fish migration systems, habitat restoration and water quality improvement. Around €100 million has been allocated to ecological initiatives in Bavaria and border regions by 2030, with €30 million already implemented.
Commitment to the Energy Transition
VERBUND plans to invest €5.9 billion by 2027 to advance sustainable energy infrastructure, alongside €400 million earmarked for ecological projects by 2030. Its initiatives focus on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem preservation and climate adaptation.
LANXESS is also targeting full climate neutrality across its value chain (Scope 1, 2 and 3) by 2050. Its science-based emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C pathway. The company has also been listed on the CDP Climate A List for seven consecutive years.
