Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) is exploring new investments in solar, geothermal and hydrogen energy, production director Milan Nedeljkovic said on Monday, warning that a ban on Russian gas imports would block the industry, Reuters reports.

The German carmaker, which has relied 54% on natural gas for its 2021 energy consumption, is looking at rooftops of plants to install solar panels and is developing plans with local authorities to transport hydrogen to its plant in Leipzig, Germany.

“Hydrogen is extremely suitable to reduce or even offset gas demand,” Nedeljkovic told Reuters, according to Agerpres.

“Our industry is responsible for about 37% of Germany’s natural gas consumption,” Nedeljkovic said when asked what would happen to BMW plants in the event of a shutdown of gas supplies in Russia. “Not only BMW, but the entire sector will be blocked,” the official warned.

The new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, which BMW claims would be the first in the world to operate without fossil fuels, will be heavily dependent on solar energy, and the car group is also looking at the use of geothermal energy, Nedelkjovic said.

Asked about nuclear power, which accounts for about half of Hungary’s energy supply but is phased out in Germany, Nedeljkovic said: “Nuclear power can be a stabilizing factor, especially in difficult times. We rely on our own sources for our own production of renewable energy.”