February 2026
After 18 months of construction, Roche has inaugurated a new biomass heating plant at the Penzberg site. Using residual forest wood for energy generation, this facility marks a significant milestone in Roche's roadmap toward CO2 neutrality.
Roche in Penzberg serves as the global headquarters for Roche CustomBiotech, with the majority of the CustomBiotech portfolio produced on-site. Consequently, infrastructure advancements at this location directly benefit our partners: by lowering the carbon footprint of our production processes, we actively support our customers in reducing their own Scope 3 emissions and achieving their supply chain sustainability targets.
Roche invested approximately 22 million euros in this northern extension project. The facility is designed to secure a sustainable energy supply while significantly reducing environmental impact.
Successfully commissioned in early 2026, the plant is now fully operational and serves as a primary source of process steam, which is essential for the biopharmaceutical manufacturing workflows used for CustomBiotech products.
The 5.6-megawatt facility generates approximately 7.6 metric tons of steam per hour. This thermal energy is actively utilized for:
Sterilization: Cleaning fermenters and bioreactors.
Purification: Producing high-purity water (WFI).
Stabilization: Supporting various inactivation processes.
Technical Dimensions: The structure measures 25 meters (82 ft) in width and height, and 35 meters (115 ft) in length, featuring a 47-meter (154 ft) chimney. The current energy output is sufficient to supply the equivalent of 380 average detached homes (at 15 kW each).
The facility prioritizes a balanced resource cycle. The wood fuel consists of residual forest wood sourced from regional forestry operations within a 100-kilometer (62-mile) radius, minimizing transport emissions.
The system is designed for maximum efficiency. Waste heat is fed into low-temperature and district heating networks, allowing the site to utilize nearly all thermal energy generated by the fuel.
Solar Power: A rooftop photovoltaic system with 156 modules generates ~70 kilowatt-peak (kWp) output.
Self-Sufficiency: From spring 2026, the electricity generated will fully cover the new building’s internal power consumption.
