MechChem Africa September-October 2024

⎪ PowerGen,PetroChem and Sustainable energy management ⎪

Making a world of difference in energy security Edith Kikonyogo, a local Division Manager for the energy industries at ABB Process Automation, highlights how ABB can make a difference in addressing Africa’s energy challenges. S ince the dawn of time, human beings have used energy sources to keep ourselves warm and safe. But, in the face of rapid industrialisation and

tion and processing of resources, with their responsible use, we can enable industries to reduce emissions, as part of the transition to net zero by 2050. Our many years of experi ence allow us to support industries in Africa and other regions to meet their commitments and maximise the value of their operational investments, while reducing carbon emissions, waste and costs throughout the energy transi tion journey. ABB Energy Industries division is enabling the energy transition process in Africa in a more sustainable manner. One example of how ABB makes a differ ence is in gas. The technology we use for gas pipelines helps to meet the world’s needs, and our analytical equipment detects leaks for further actions. We also worked on developing dual-fuel propulsion for liquefied natural gas ships, enabling them to utilise electric power as they deliver this fuel to where it is needed. Some of our customers on the continent struggle to deliver an uninterrupted energy supply due to various factors. Our ability to integrate power and process automation helps to stabilise energy supply, particularly when incorporating renewables. The ABB Ability™ System 800xA ® distributed control system (DCS) plays a central role in ensuring a secure, stable and affordable energy supply for industries. Another solution that enables balancing energy demand with availability is the ABB Ability™ OPTIMAX ® energy management system. It consolidates data from various sources and provides operators with insights

technological advancements, modern society has relied, and become dependent on, fossil fuels for power generation. The scientific community has warned us that unmitigated carbon emissions will exacer bate global warming and threaten our health, agriculture, water supply, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems. The Paris Agreement, ad opted at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) on 12 December 2015, became our roadmap for climate redemption. The effect of this crisis is felt most in Africa, the second largest continent on the planet and home to more than a billion people. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa accounts for around 20% of the world’s population but attracts less than 3.0% of spending on energy. Africa also has the low est emissions per capita of any region as per the IEA’s 2022 report. With severe climate change impacts and lower investment on energy, Africa faces a rising demand for an uninterrupted electricity supply. Addressing this challenge requires a focus on energy security and a shift towards renew able energy in Africa. With industries in the region already adopting renewable energy, ensuring a stable, affordable, and uninter rupted electricity supply is equally important to securing Africa’s energy sector. ABB’s Energy Industries division is mak ing a world of difference in helping industries across Africa to automate, digitalise and elec trify their operations to optimise productivity and ensure operational efficiency while driv ing sustainability. Our integrated automation and digital solutions support many customers worldwide in developing new and renewable energy mod els, enabling energy-efficient and low-carbon operations across traditional industries. ABB Energy Industries has ongoing projects with customers from the oil and gas, chemicals, power generation, life sciences and water industries. We understand that energy is essential for society to continue to progress and the entire energy mix, including hydrocarbons, has a role to play. By prioritising the efficient produc

on energy consumption. When customers consider new energy projects, minimising risk and optimising costs are essential. And with ABB Adaptive Execution™ methodol ogy, the traditional project approach evolves to deliver results faster, with CAPEX savings of up to 40%. While energy projects are under construc tion, one must reduce energy demand to increase availability. ABB’s digital solutions deliver performance insights and empower industries to optimise energy use. These solutions include asset condition monitoring, asset health and management, predictive maintenance, energy management, simula tion, virtual commissioning, remote support, and collaborative operations. In sub-Saharan Africa, we have a strong footprint backed by our skills, customer centricity, products and solutions. Whether you are looking at new energy sources or struggling with older power generation tech nologies, working together is the only way we can make a world of difference in progressing to a net zero future. https://new.abb.com/Africa

Addressing the climate change challenge requires a focus on energy security and a shift towards renewable energy in Africa.

September-October 2024 • MechChem Africa ¦ 25