Electricity + Control March 2019

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Circular economy system diagram. (Image: Ellen MacArthur Foundation)

Decarbonise energy The huge payoff of a green manufacturing position is energy savings. Here, environmental and busi- ness benefits go hand in hand. We see a bright future for decarbonising energy. The latest Ener- gy Transitions Commission (ETC) report Mission Possible declares that reaching net-zero CO 2 emis- sions by mid-century is a very real vision. This goal can be achieved largely by the decarbonisation of power and the electrification of processes. The cost of decarbonisation also can be reduced sig- nificantly by constraining demand growth for car- bon-intensive transport (through greater logistics efficiency and modal shift). With digitalised process innovation, even en- ergy-demanding industries such as concrete production can push towards more efficient, cli- mate-friendly practices. China National Building Materials Group is a model in this regard, cutting energy use by 10%. Deliver digital innovation Thanks to IIoT technology and the development of smart connected devices, manufacturers can prioritise resource efficiency projects alongside productivity goals. Connected assets throughout a facility can yield insights into real-time and his-

torical energy use, enabling industrial enterprises to streamline energy and resources from a bot- tom-line perspective. And when energy is among a company’s top expenses, this view of it is critical. Producing high-performance materials at Saint- Gobain’s plants, for example, requires massive amounts of power. Through digital innovation, Saint-Gobain has a realistic goal of curbing energy use and, in turn, cutting carbon emissions by 20% by 2025. Green growth is possible. To do our part for the global resources land- scape, Schneider Electric implements solutions across the life cycle of its own products to improve usage and extend their lives. Schneider’s Smart Factory Program applies the company’s own EcoStruxure™ solutions across its global supply chain to drive operational and energy efficiencies. These systems also enable us to quantify the CO 2 emissions of clients to further reduce global emis- sions numbers. Our aim is to avoid the release of 100 million tons of CO 2 emissions between 2018 and 2020. Drive a circular economy But make no mistake: green manufacturing is about more than leveraging high-tech materials production and pushing for energy-efficient practic-

Green is not a hollow word. There are tangible ways to drive sustainable

practices within manufacturing facilities.

Electricity + Control

MARCH 2019

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