German authorities have granted Elon Musk’s Tesla permission to expand its gigafactory just outside Berlin. The original plans sparked resistance from locals worried about the environmental impacts. The US electric car manufacturer Tesla has received the go-ahead from the state of Brandenburg for a first step towards expanding the plant in Grünheide near Berlin.
The State Environment Agency has granted initial environmental approval for the Tesla project, as the Ministry of the Environment announced. This involves changes and optimisation of systems that have already been built. Tesla explained that with the first part of the approval, the authority also determined that a possible further expansion with a doubling of production capacity and battery storage capacity with the environmental impacts described is in principle approved, because no further forest needs to be cleared for this.
The factory near the small town of Grünheide in Brandenburg, about 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) beyond the south-eastern edge of Berlin, is Tesla’s only such site in Europe.
Tesla wants to double production in Grünheide from the planned 500 000 cars per year – which, as is well known, has not yet been achieved – to one million per year. The storage capacity of battery cell production is expected to increase from 50 to 100 gigawatt hours annually. Tesla submitted an application in three parts for the expansion. The company had made it clear that it was sticking to its expansion plans, but that the schedule remained open due to the difficult market situation.
According to the original plans, more than 100 hectares of woodland were to be cleared. However, after a local referendum, Tesla scaled back the project, including scrapping plans for a new freight depot.
Construction may begin ‘at own risk’
The environment ministry of the federal state of Brandenburg, which envelops the city-state of Berlin and where Grünheide is located, said building permission had not yet been officially granted but that Tesla could begin construction ‘at its own risk’ following positive talks.
The approved plans include laying new underground pipes, building new stairwells and installing solar panels on roofs. A new asphalted logistics area for new cars is also planned, as is a new larger production hall.
Tesla, of which Elon Musk owns the majority of shares, has been operating in Brandenburg since March 2022 and employs around 12 000 people at its Grünheide site – although 400 redundancies were announced in April this year.
In March, unknown saboteurs managed to cause a serious power cut at the plant, prompting public condemnation from senior German politicians concerned that Musk might consider relocating the factory. In May, climate activists attempted to storm the site, leading to clashes with police.
