Merck runs and operates a new power plant at the Darmstadt site that supplies the site with energy. It was extensively modernized
in 2002 and operates in accordance with the principle of a co-generation system, which produces electric current and heat.
The thermal energy from the power-generating turbine is used for production and heating purposes.
The step-by-step conversion of brown coal to natural gas made energy recovery more efficient and led to a considerable reduction
in CO2 emissions. A decrease in the need for steam, process optimizations and other energy-saving measures brought additional
reductions in CO2 emissions.
CO2 emissions fell by around two thirds in the last 20 Years. For the Darmstadt region, this meant a considerable drop in
local CO2 emissions. Merck is therefore making a contribution to climate protection that goes beyond the voluntary commitment
of the chemical industry in Germany.