EMPOWERING INDUSTRIES WITH ENERGY-EFFICIENT INNOVATIONS
Energy efficiency in the industrial sector refers to the optimized use of energy to achieve the same or greater output while minimizing waste. This concept is crucial for industries as it not only reduces operational costs but also lessens environmental impact by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Efficient energy use involves implementing advanced technologies, optimizing production processes, and adopting best practices in energy management. Industries that prioritize energy efficiency benefit from improved competitiveness, regulatory compliance, and enhanced corporate sustainability profiles.
Advantages of energy efficiency in the industrial sector:
Several companies are spearheading innovative solutions to boost energy efficiency in industrial operations. For instance, Siemens has introduced its Digital Enterprise portfolio, which integrates automation, digitalization, and energy management to optimize energy use in manufacturing. Similarly, Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure platform provides comprehensive energy management solutions that enable industries to monitor and control energy consumption in real-time, resulting in significant energy savings. Another notable example is General Electric's Predix platform, which utilizes data analytics and IoT to enhance the energy efficiency of industrial equipment and processes.
These advancements highlight the growing commitment of leading companies to fostering sustainable industrial practices through cutting-edge technology.
Let us take a look at some recent examples:
AI UPGRADE TO ABB ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OPTIMIZES INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ABB has launched ABB AbilityTM OPTIMAX? 6.4, the latest version of its flagship digital energy management and optimization system, to provide coordinated control of multiple industrial assets and processes, improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and support decarbonization.
The performance and usability upgrades to OPTIMAX include an AI module for improved forecasting of load demand, energy generation and energy pricing without manual interaction. This significantly reduces day-ahead and intra-day nomination errors when feeding energy to the grid, which helps avoid rising penalty payments for operators.
HONEYWELL REVOLUTIONIZES LARGE-SCALE BATTERY MANUFACTURING WITH AUTOMATION SOFTWARE
Honeywell announced the launch of its Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (Battery MXP), an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software solution designed to optimize the operation of gigafactories from day one by improving battery cell yields and expediting facility startups for manufacturers.
With traditional standalone solutions, battery manufacturers' material scrap rates can be as high as 30% at steady state and even higher during the facility startup process. This practice can lead to millions of dollars of wasted energy and material while a gigafactory slowly scales to a more efficient and profitable production over several years.
Battery MXP incorporates AI techniques in the manufacturing process, which enables the detection and remediation of quality issues before they result in scrapped material. The solution then utilizes machine learning to identify conditions that lead to quality issues and turns this data into action-oriented insights that manufacturers can use to improve efficiency and productivity.
By delivering powerful data that can improve quality control and decision-making on the plant floor, Battery MXP is designed to help manufacturers cut production ramp-up time, reduce startup material scrap rates by 60% and increase delivery rates to meet the growing demand for lithium-based batteries.
By providing bidirectional traceability and genealogy, Battery MXP tracks battery cells from raw material to finished product in real-time, helping to ensure product quality at every step. The solution also helps to address other key challenges faced by battery manufacturers by offering solutions for process controls, workforce management and thermal runaway battery fire prevention. These safety elements aid both operators in the gigafactory and end-users of the batteries in staying safe.
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SIEMENS AND BASF COLLABORATE ON DRIVING CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Siemens Smart Infrastructure and BASF announced the first electrical safety product to include components made from biomass-balanced plastics. Used across industrial and infrastructure applications, Siemens SIRIUS 3RV2?circuit breaker is now being manufactured using Ultramid? BMBcertTM and Ultradur? BMBcertTM from BASF, where fossil feedstock at the beginning of the value chain is replaced by biomethane-derived from renewable sources such as agricultural waste.
Both materials offer the same quality and performance as conventional plastics. The material changeover in the SIRIUS 3RV2?circuit breaker production will reduce the emission of carbon dioxide equivalents by ~270?tons per year1. Customers using these products contribute to a circular economy towards a more sustainable future.
The move supports Siemens’ sustainability goals in the areas of decarbonization and resource efficiency, outlined within its DEGREE framework, with the company following a 1.5°C science-based decarbonization target, including a 90?percent reduction target for scope 1?and 2?until 2030, and the application of a Robust Eco Design for 100?percent of relevant product families by 2030.
In the coming months, Siemens plans to expand the use of sustainable materials across the broader SIRIUS industrial controls portfolio. In addition to product design and features, as well as manufacturing and supply processes, the choice of materials plays a major role in further reducing carbon emissions and conserving natural resources.
By increasingly relying on renewable and recycled raw materials for the manufacture of its products, BASF is committed to making its contribution to the circular economy and de-fossilization. This is achieved through a process that gradually replaces fossil raw materials with bio-based and recycled feedstock. According to the mass balance approach, renewable or recycled raw materials are introduced into production at the beginning of the complex BASF value chains. If customers decide in favour of a certified product from such a value chain, BASF feeds sustainable raw materials into ongoing BASF Verbund production.
Conclusion
The drive towards energy efficiency in the industrial sector is not just a trend but a necessity for sustainable growth. As industries continue to adopt and innovate with energy-efficient technologies, the positive impacts are manifold—ranging from substantial cost savings to a significant reduction in environmental footprints. By embracing these advancements, industries can achieve a harmonious balance between economic performance and environmental stewardship, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
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