The shutdown of power plants in Hungary and Romania, necessitated by low water levels, is also having an impact on German automotive manufacturers. While Ford and Dacia have halted production in Romania, BMW plans to continue operations at its facilities.
A BMW spokesperson told the “Welt” (Tuesday edition) that the company has implemented a short-term measures package to maximize energy efficiency across various areas, including plant operation, lighting, climate control, and charging infrastructure. As a result, the plant in Debrecen, eastern Hungary, has already reduced its energy consumption by approximately 15 percent since Friday.
BMW benefits from having installed 50 hectares of solar area at this site-spread across various rooftops, the areas around finished vehicle parking lots, and nearby fields. During a summer day, the facility can operate almost entirely on up to 50 megawatts of power. However, because the factory operates in a two-shift system, grid electricity must be purchased during nighttime hours.
Hungary is also a critical location for Mercedes, whose factory in Kecskemet was recently expanded. A spokesperson confirmed that current production across all areas is running without restrictions. Nevertheless, they stated that the company is closely monitoring the current situation and maintaining consistent communication with the responsible authorities, keeping supply security at the forefront of their concerns.
These industrial challenges are linked to global warming, which is causing droughts and low water levels to become more frequent and severe in certain regions. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns, leading to rain becoming less frequent but falling in heavier bursts. This situation is exacerbated by the emission of increased greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
