Where do we get our power from?

Energy is the most important “raw material” of our time. At the same time, it represents a significant cost factor in the balance sheet of most companies.

So we take advantage of every opportunity to reduce the amount of energy we purchase. This is also why measures to improve energy efficiency and

our environmental footprint are at the top of the agenda for every new construction or building expansion project we initiate. Power supply is a multi-source story: Saving energy, change to green energy, usage of geothermal energy, thermal power plants, second usage of energy which is used anyway – there are many ways to improve the energy situation within a company.

Green electric energy

Thermal power station

Geothermal power

Re-use of heat

Green electric energy

One major lever to reduce carbon emissions is the right selection of power. Electric power from renewable sources is becoming more and more common. Even the price delta between greenpower and classic power is getting smaller compared to some years ago. Still, there is quite often a price difference and a proactive switch is also some financial commitment of a company to more sustainability.Although the general/ classic power mix is based on an increasing percentage of renewable power, we decided to switch our power contracts to 100% green power. Starting in 2018, the first Eppendorf factory (ULT freezers) was able to perform product assembly based on 100% renewable power.In 2022, our German facilities used ca. 19,000 mWh of certified green power, resulting in a non-emission of ca.8,000 t CO₂ per year compared to power from classic sources. The global headquarter office with local production facilities of instruments and liquid handling uses 100% green power since 2020. Our production facility in the USA is powered by 100% wind energy. There are still two small factories which still use classic power mix: A new factory in Shanghai where the switch to renewable power is planned and our Japan-based factory for highspeed and ultra highspeed centrifuges. The centrifuge factory is integrated in a bigger industrial complex where a change of power supply is currently not possible.In the next steps, the global warehouse but also the local subhubs will be adapted to green power. This means, all products assembled in our classic Eppendorf locations in Europe and America are based on 100% renewable electric energy contracts in our facilities. Mainly by purchasing electricity from green renewable energy sources, the CO₂ emissions of Eppendorf were reduced by around 58% from 2019 to 2022.

Certificates

Eppendorf SE 2025 I Renewable energy certificate 2025-8811-0003

Eppendorf SE 2024 | Renewable energy certificate 2024-7458-0001

Geothermal power

A common feature of growing companies is the need to physically extend existing facilities or open new ones, both of which require construction measures. Following the general request to actively reduce CO₂ emissions, our construction measures offer us the opportunity to improve our ecological footprint.

A good example is a dedicated office building at our company‘s main location in Hamburg, Germany. In 2013, we evaluated, planned and finally implemented the utilization of the site‘s existing geothermal energy for heating and cooling the entire building. Since 2014, the heat pumps required by the geothermic plant are no longer supplied with external electrical power, but with solar power generated by the system on the roof of the building. Although it is occasionally necessary to use externally sourced electrical power at night, the building has a nearly even energy balance.

This construction project posed a number of special challenges. For example, before the geothermal plant was built, the anticipated heating

nd cooling capacity had to be carefully calculated and assessed in relationship to the geothermic probes that needed to be installed. The number and installation depth of those probes and the material used for them had a significant impact on the work and expenses involved in realizing the geothermic plant.

Eppendorf‘s extensive test drilling and the insights it gained from the use of different types of probes and drilling depths were pioneering efforts in the region.

We were well aware of the uncertainties of such a project, but it was a challenge we enjoyed meeting, and our efforts were rewarded by the energy selfsufficiency of the building, the valuable insights we gained into the use of geothermic systems in the region, and the concrete contribution the project enabled us to make to the goal of environmentally friendly energy supply.

Re-use of heat

The Eppendorf ULT freezer manufacturing process includes several quality checks. Each ULT freezer is thoroughly inspected to meet the rigorous quality guidelines. The final inspection takes more than 24 h and is based on a real test run of the unit down to -80 °C. This process is documented by an individual Certificate of Quality, complete with serial number, provided as standard for your documentation. The compressors consume energy to cool the ULT freezer at -80 °C but also generate heat. The freezer manufacturing facility takes advantage of this: The heat output during final individual unit testing discharges into the building heating system.

Vous vous apprêtez à quitter ce site.

Where do we get our power from?

Green electric energy

Certificates

Geothermal power

Re-use of heat