(Weilheim an der Tek) – The city of Weilheim an der Tek has paved the way for a fuel cell factory called "Klimawerk" (Climate Plant) by Cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG. According to reports, an agreement has now been reached with the last remaining landowner of the central plots, and the purchase contract has been notarized.
Mayor Johannes Züfle (Free Voters) is relieved: “I am aware that this was not easy for everyone. We will continue to report very transparently about the project and seek dialogue with the actors involved.” Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann rates the conclusion of the contract “as a great success for Baden-Württemberg as a business location”.
15 hectares earmarked for Cellcentric
Around 30 hectares are earmarked for commercial development in the Rosenloh area: 15 hectares for the Cellcentric company and 15 hectares for local businesses and the construction of a relief road. The development of the commercial area was decided on in 2022. At that time, the majority of citizens who took part in the decision approved the construction in a referendum in April. However, Cellcentric's project was still uncertain because some property owners did not want to sell.
After the local council passed the statutory resolution for the development plan with a large majority in December 2023, it is now legally binding following the announcement, which was also made in December 2023. The next important step is the conclusion of contract negotiations with the company Cellcentric. “The contract must be drawn up and finalized in detail,” says a statement from the administration.
The plans of Cellcentric, a joint venture between Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group AB founded in March 2021, envisage creating up to 450 new additional jobs and ecologically designed green spaces to compensate for the loss of space and waste heat in the Rosenloh industrial park and adjacent areas to be made possible by green hydrogen production. Orchard fruit trees are to be planted on 17.000 square meters.
Regional association guarantees 21 million euros
The Stuttgart Region Association has guaranteed 21 million euros for the financing. This secures the purchase of the land and half of the development costs for the Rosenloh area. Without the guarantee from the regional association, the special financing program via the Landesbank Baden-Württemberg would not be possible.
All contractual structures would still have to be legally examined and finalized by the Weilheim city administration. This will take place in the first quarter of 2024. The first work in the area should be possible in the next vegetation-free period from autumn 2024.
Photos
Rendering of Cellcentric's future fuel cell factory. © Cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
