The long wait is finally over, and after a long process of delays, controversy and other drama, Tesla's Berlin Gigafactory has finally secured environmental approval from Germany, and the State of Brandenburg has released an updated official document outlining the next steps Tesla needs to take to produce cars at its electric car factory in Berlin, Germany.
According to the state's press release, the approval for the Berlin plant covers a number of topics, such as the production of 500,000 cars per year, and the approval also includes battery production activities within the Berlin plant complex (which will enable Tesla to manufacture its batteries in Germany), as well as aluminium smelters and aluminum foundries, surface treatment, heat generation and storage plants, as well as battery production, operation of wastewater treatment plants, fire brigade equipment rooms, overhead warehouses, and laboratories and workshops (approval documents reach 536 pages). ”
The Minister of the Environment, Alex Vogel, expressed his gratitude to state government employees and other authorities for the speedy approval of the Berlin factory: "As a high-performing national administration, even under the pressure of great public interest and unwarranted harassment, you have always paid attention to the technical requirements, the high level of environmental protection, the protection of the public and the neighbourhood from danger and the legal certainty of procedures, and in times of climate crisis, the supply of water will play an increasingly important role in future development and settlement, Most importantly, digitalization helps to streamline and accelerate processes without limiting environmental standards and participation rights. ”
Regional Administrator Rolf Lindemann also stressed that the Berlin plant is good for the region, as evidenced by the project's potential to reach milestones such as a final environmental approval in a short period of time despite adversity, noting that the Berlin plant and the companies that have been working with Tesla over the past two years to approve the project will be actively meeting any challenges ahead.
However, although the final environmental approval of the Berlin factory has been obtained, Tesla still needs to ensure that it meets the requirements of the state, and the sheer size of its approval documents highlights these characteristics, including more than 23,700 pages in 66 documents, with more than 400 additional provisions, which deal with groundwater protection requirements and water conservation and pollution reduction measures, species protection measures, air pollutant limits and their measurement regulations, occupational safety requirements, etc., and other specific rules related to factory operations are highlighted in the document. In particular, the rules regarding how it affects groundwater in the region.
"Of these, there are 113 air pollution control requirements, including the corresponding chimney height of each exhaust gas stream, another 22 requirements that determine the method and spacing of the exhaust gas, etc., as well as 96 requirements for drinking water protection, wastewater treatment and rainwater, which, inter alia, specify limits for discharge to wastewater pressure lines and corresponding cleaning processes, and when using building materials, it is important to ensure that no harmful substances enter groundwater, monitored by groundwater, The formation of new groundwaters and their quality must be regularly checked, and in view of water tensions, particularly as a result of climate change, it should be possible to react to changes as early as possible. After inspection by the approval authority, the entire system must comply with the provisions of the Dangerous Accident Regulations, so special precautions must be taken to prevent accidents, limit the impact of accidents, and maintain appropriate safety distances to protect adjacent protected objects, in addition tesla must formulate accident concepts and comply with special information obligations..."
The state noted that Tesla can now build its Berlin plant further, but it's important to note that before Tesla can actually put its Model Y production facility into operation, several ancillary regulations must first be met, including the installation of air pollutant measurement devices and fire and accident prevention measures, which will be inspected by the competent authorities, and once Tesla completes this step, The Model Y production can finally begin.