TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe and RheinEnergie celebrate milestone for emissions-reducing central cooling facility

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe (TGR-E) and RheinEnergie have celebrated a topping-out ceremony for the new central cooling facility at TGR-E’s Cologne technical centre after the completion of the building structure.

The state-of-the-art facility will reduce CO2 emissions by around 1,400 metric tons a year. It comprises two highly efficient turbo compressors, a combined heat and power plant, as well as a heat absorber, in order to reliably supply heating and cooling for the entire 30,000m² facility.

This new facility marks an important step on TGR-E’s journey to carbon neutrality, in line with the global Toyota Environment Challenge 2050, which targets zero CO2 emissions in vehicle manufacturing processes via innovative technologies and continuous improvement.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has seen TGR-E at the forefront of future motorsport technology, initially as the first manufacturer to compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours exclusively with a hybrid powertrain, then by using 100% renewable fuel since 2022.

TGR-E also contributes to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s development of the GR H2 Racing Concept. Unveiled by Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda in June, this hydrogen-engine prototype has been developed with future competition in its sights, notably a future top H2 category at Le Mans.

In customer racing, the TGR-E United employee team demonstrated the potential of e-fuels by competing in the 2022 Nürburgring 24 Hours with a GR Supra GT4 race car, showcasing another example of how TOYOTA GAZOO Racing aims to preserve the stirring sound and sensory excitement of motorsport in a carbon-neutral era.

“On the race track, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has played a pioneering role in the use of alternative powertrain concepts for many years, working towards a sustainable, CO2-neutral future for motorsport,” says Rob Leupen, Managing Director of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe. “However, our efforts do not end when the chequered flag waves. The new central cooling centre is an important building block on the way to decarbonizing our manufacturing at the Cologne site.”

RheinEnergie and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe have successfully worked together since 2016 regarding refrigeration and compressed air supply. As an expert in sustainable and innovative energy solutions, RheinEnergie - next energy solutions continuously optimises the existing facilities. Thanks to the new central cooling facility, refrigeration at TGR-E will in future be generated efficiently in one plant instead of several decentralized locations.

“The new plant technology provides TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe with a modern, reliable and efficient cooling supply,” says Holger Mennigmann, Head of Energy Services and District Heating at RheinEnergie. “With the combined heat, cooling and power generation, TGR-E secures independence in the event of electricity price fluctuations and flexibility in the operation of the facility.”

For the latest news, photos and videos of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s motorsports projects please visit TGR’s global Digital Asset Management System: https://toyotagazooracing.com/media/. 

About TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe:

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe has been based in Cologne, Germany since 1979 and built its reputation in motorsport, beginning with two decades of FIA World Rally Championship success. TGR-E’s facilities and capabilities expanded significantly during its time in Formula 1 (2002-2009). Today, the Cologne site is home to the successful TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the birthplace of the Yaris Rally1 Hybrid Engine for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and the base of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's European customer motorsport activities. In addition, TGR-E delivers research and development support for TOYOTA Motor Corporation and has a thriving business as a supplier of high-performance services. www.tgr-europe.com