The USelectric car manufacturer Tesla is to change its plans for the expansion of the battery factory in Grünheide near Berlin according to the will of the state of Brandenburg. The planned production of battery cells in a new building is partly in a water protection zone, said the State Environment Agency in a statement on Tesla’s application to expand the car factory. “The same applies to the process wastewater recycling plant.” The “Tagesspiegel” reported on Tuesday. The State Office for the Environment (LfU) speaks of insurmountable obstacles to partial approval.
Tesla replied that the expansion of battery cell production was not part of the first application for a partial permit. Tesla also sees no problems with the water treatment: The recycling of the water from the production process is carried out by converting an already approved plant for the treatment of waste water, the company said. The wastewater treatment plants for future expansions should be placed outside the water protection area.
Tesla plans to double production capacity
Tesla wants to expand its electric car plant in Grünheide in Brandenburg. According to the company, the goal is to double production capacity from 500,000 cars, which has not yet been achieved, to one million cars a year. 22,500 employees are planned for this expansion of production. Tesla is submitting applications in three parts for environmental approval to the state of Brandenburg.
A battery factory already exists in Grünheide and is to be expanded. Tesla plans to double the storage capacity of battery cells from 50 to 100 gigawatt hours per year. Around 11,000 employees currently work in Grünheide and produce around 250,000 vehicles a year. Environmental and nature conservationists have seen dangers since construction began because part of the factory is located in the water protection area.
Piles cause criticism
The water association Strausberg-Erkner (WSE), which supplies Tesla, hopes for the protection of the water: “The association trusts in the professional and appropriate decision of the LfU as the approval authority in terms of securing the drinking water supply for the 170,000 people in the association area,” said spokeswoman Sandra Ponesky of the German press agency.
The US automaker also plans to drive 81,200 piles into the ground as part of the construction of a new manufacturing facility north of the site. The use of piles had already caused criticism in the existing factory, and significantly more piles are planned for the expansion.