Michelin’s “Green Production”

A 250kW Molten Carbonate fuel cell has been installed in Michelin’s tyre plant in Karlsruhe, Germany. The project, supported by the energy utility company Energie Baden-Württemberg (EnBW), the local energy supplier Stadtwerke Karlsruhe and DaimlerChrysler’s subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen cost about Euro 3.6 million.

The facility will run as a test station for about two years. After the completion of a successful trial, MTU will think about mass producing this and similar units from 2006 on.”Our tyres have to be black, but their production should be green,” said Olivier Furnon, managing director of Michelin’s plant in Karlsruhe.

Apart from producing electric energy, the fuel cell also produces 200°C hot steam which is used in the tyre galvanisation process. One of the major reasons for installing this unit was, apart from pollution-free electricity, the cost factor. The fuel cell uses much less natural gas than a conventional energy power plant.