Tesla Giga Berlin nearly ready

Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg could be starting production soon, with an official opening touted for March 22, now that a key environmental approval has been given.

The Brandenburg State Office for the Environment (LfU), responsible for emission control approval procedures, issued approval for the Tesla factory in Grünheide (Oder-Spree district) in Brandenburg and handed it over to the project promoter on March 4.

It means Tesla can continue plant construction and could soon get an operating permit.

The project, approved in a 536-page decision, includes the plant for production of up to 500,000 vehicles annually, aluminium smelting plants and an aluminium foundry, facilities for surface treatment, heat generation and storage.

The plant also includes battery cell production, a company wastewater pre-treatment plant, a fire station, a high-bay warehouse as well as laboratories and workshops.

Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg is hiring people, with nearly 3000 of about 12,000 positions filled.

A month is allowed for any objections to the environmental approval and Tesla has to meet conditions such as water use (including water saving and wastewater reduction measures) and air pollution controls.

Of the almost 312 hectares requested, 164ha of forest have been cleared and the replacement of the 312ha of forest area required by forestry law has been supplemented by species and nature conservation regulations, so that Tesla will have to reforest almost 318ha by December 31, 2022, the report notes. By the end of 2025, an additional 319ha of forest conversion will have to be carried out, with the initial afforestation 97% complete.

Species protection measures include around 90 nesting aids for birds, 66 bat boxes and alternative quarters for reptiles such as fence lizards and snakes.

The plant is reported to cost about five billion euros and is geared for the European market.

Meanwhile, a “Giga Fest” event at Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas plant is planned for April 7, subject to a “mass gathering permit” being issued by Travis County.

Production at the Austin factory has begun but final certification of the Model Ys there is reportedly needed before deliveries.