A new 17,000 square meter photovoltaic system inaugurated at Sant'Agata Bolognese
An integrated environmental strategy based on both production process and product innovations
Lamborghini is the first Italian automotive company to be EMAS certified

February 3, 2010. Automobili Lamborghini today inaugurates the new photovoltaic system installed at its premises in Sant'Agata Bolognese.
The biggest integrated system in Emilia Romagna's industrial sector will enable, together with other interventions, a reduction in CO2 emissions of 30%, equal to more than 1.067 tons per year.
The operation affects important areas of the business: the production plant, sales offices, the customer service department and "Centro Stile", occupying a total area of 17,000 square meters, equivalent to more than two football pitches.
"Today's inauguration is an important step in a process that Lamborghini has been pursuing for some time," said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. "We will carry on down this road, and are evaluating activities which will lead, in the future, to a remarkable 50% reduction in the factory's CO2 emissions. This will go hand-in-hand with actual product development, where our goal is to reduce emissions by 35% by 2015."
The photovoltaic system
The system was created by Spanish group Gestamp Asetym Solar s.l., a leader in the field of renewable source investment, and Sinergia Sistemi S.p.A., an Italian market leader in energy saving services, specializing in civil and industrial energy management and large system creations which exploit renewable sources. Sinergia Sistemi devised an energy improvement plan for Lamborghini that identified the actions needed to improve the overall efficiency of the factory.
Started in 2007 and finished on schedule at the end of 2009, today's launch of the photovoltaic system marks an important energy improvement project; it has a total power output of 1.4 MW, producing green energy of 1,582 MWh/year with a 20% reduction in emissions. A further 10% reduction was obtained by applying a thermal insulation cover to the entire roof of the production facility, the introduction of domotics for lighting and heating systems and the use of warm air destratifiers.
A counter on a pillar at the factory entrance provides a real-time display of the kilowatt hours of electrical energy produced and the effective amount of kilograms of CO2 saved.
Responsible Road to Super Car Development
The innovative nature which has always been a feature of Lamborghini also entails reducing the environmental impact of the cars made at Sant'Agata, while keeping faith with the brand values and its character as a super sports car manufacturer.
The Research and Development department has amassed an internationally recognized expertise which allows it to achieve objectives that are only possible through the use of innovative technologies and materials such as composite materials and carbon fiber.
Lamborghini research focuses on:
reducing the weight of the vehicles
improving combustion
reducing friction
integrating Start-and-Stop systems
hybrid transmission solutions
biofuels
The first milestone was achieved with the Gallardo LP 560-4. The new technical solutions applied to this car enabled a reduction in CO2 emissions of 18%, and nearly 20% on the latest rear-wheel drive Valentino Balboni version. This has been achieved without affecting the car's performance, thanks to an improvement
of its already amazing power to weight ratio.
Joint research with Boeing produces new materials for car manufacture
Last December, in Seattle, Lamborghini unveiled the 'Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory', a facility that endorses the company's decision to invest in new technologies based on carbon fiber, with help from the University of Washington and the Boeing Company.
The ACSL is the ideal environment for the analysis and identification of carbon fiber materials and their production and processing. Carbon fiber is ideal for the manufacture of sports cars as its use enables a reduction in weight and increased mechanical features. The car's performance is thus improved with a decreased weight to power ratio, and reduced total mass, means that CO2 emissions are also decreased.
Focus on people and the environment
Automobili Lamborghini's environmental policy takes into account all considerations relating to its locality and this responsibility has led it to become the first and only Italian company in the automotive sector to obtain EMAS environmental certification (EMAS regulation is a tool conceived by the European Union for helping organizations to evaluate and improve their environmental efficiency). This important recognition was awarded in July 2009, only a few months after Lamborghini had obtained ISO 14001 certification, thereby satisfying environmental management international standards.
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. is a company that specializes in the manufacture of luxury sports cars, a brand known the world over as being synonymous with design, power, innovation and craftsmanship.
Founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini at Sant'Agata Bolognese (Bologna), in the heart of the so-called "Motorland" situated between Modena and Bologna, the car company soon distinguished itself as being at the cutting edge of stylistic research and technological skill.
With strong links with the local area, the company is still inspired by these guidelines today. In the last few years it has undergone a huge revival and significant growth in production and sales. The success of these last few years is due to the efforts of Audi AG and a process of company restructuring which has been chiefly due to the current President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann.
Automobili Lamborghini has an international presence and has distributors in 45 countries for its range of cars, which today comprises two basic models: the Murciélago and the Gallardo.
The design of the models, their assembly and the manufacture of some components of Lamborghini cars are all done in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The headquarters occupy an area of 100,000 m2; high quality standards are guaranteed there and the car company demands the same standards from its suppliers, mostly prestigious names in the world of motoring.
All super sportscars with the Lamborghini badge are distinguished by their refined, innovative design, and the stylistic features of the brand have brought the company recognition throughout the world as an emblem of Italian design. Sharp lines and clean surfaces give the cars an essential style which has always anticipated and dictated trends in the most coveted sportscar sector. Today, respect for its stylistic tradition is assured by the Lamborghini "Centro Stile" : a truly creative studio, formed in 2004, responsible for the design and planning of new models.
The constant activity of the Research and Development department, innovation in production technology, a highly specialized workforce, expansion of the distribution network and increasing people's awareness of the brand are today's chief growth strategies for Lamborghini.
Business partners
Spanish industrial group Gestamp Asetym Solar, which specializes in investing in large photovoltaic systems, is responsible for installing power systems producing a total of over 150MW, and has both an international presence and ambitious business expansion plans, especially in Italy.
Sinergia Sistemi S.p.A. of Casalecchio di Reno (Bologna) is the Italian market leader in energy saving systems and as such is also an E.S.Co. (Energy Service Company) able to finance the systems and energy requalification initiatives it offers to its customers, in a relationship of Total Energy Management.
Sinergia Sistemi and Gestamp Asetym Solar worked with other companies in executing the Lamborghini project: Assoutility Srl and Consorzio Bolognese Energia Galvani (CBEG Scrl) helped establishing the best practices for supplying the energy generated by the system.
The final project was based on a preliminary study carried out by CENER, Centro Nazionale Spagnolo Energie Rinnovabili (the National Centre of Spain for Renewable Forms of Energy). This study carried out a broad evaluation of the feasibility and size of the project