- In a first for the UK, BMW Group’s MINI Plant Oxford has began trialling Aeromine Technologies’ motionless wind energy system, which produces energy from wind without any visible blades – helping the system to remain relatively hidden in the environment.
- Feedback from the trial will be fed back to all global BMW Group facilities, to see if any possible wider rollout would be feasible.
- The sustainable moves comes ahead of MINI commencing production of the fully-electric MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman, in 2026.
BMW looks to increase sustainability of its factories
Whilst the Oxford plant’s body shop already has an installation of over 11,000 solar panels, generating enough annual electricity to power the equivalent of 850 households, in the relatively cloudy UK, this system becomes less effective during the evening and winter months. This new wind installation will help complement that existing infrastruture, particularly on what is a relatively urban site, where installing a traditional wind turbine may have been prohibited. Combined, the two features could help increase the proportion of fully renewable energy used by the site.
With the solution from Aeromine Technologies only in its trial phase, after its effectiveness is reviewed, the compact and quieter solution could not only be rolled out to BMW Group’s factories, but its office spaces, too. With production of two MINI EVs commencing at the Oxford plant in 2026, this will further complement the site’s sustainable image.
Urs Sambale, Project Manager for Sustainability Steering at BMW Group Real Estate Europe, commented:
“This pilot is a small but exciting project for BMW Group and complements our existing approach to purchasing renewable electricity from the national grid. We’re looking forward to seeing its potential for generating clean wind energy at BMW Group sites.”
Claus Lonborg, Managing Director at Aeromine Technologies, added:
“Aeromine’s partnership with BMW Group represents a pivotal step in our mission to innovate and expand the capabilities of renewable energy solutions. Our “motionless” wind energy technology is designed to work seamlessly alongside solar systems, maximising the renewable energy output from rooftops while helping address challenges like noise, vibrations, and wildlife impact. We’re excited to see how this initial installation can lead to broader applications across BMW’s global facilities.”
