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Energy efficiency is the key to achieving decarbonisation
Author : Stephen Hayes, Beckhoff UK
13 December 2023
As the world continues to decarbonise industries and infrastructure. The good news is that the technology needed to significantly reduce energy consumption is already available today, as Stephen Hayes, Managing Director of automation and control technology specialist, Beckhoff UK, explains.
Throughout the course of history, humanity has consistently strived to transform energy into motion through the most effective available methods. From the use of wind and water mills, to the invention of the steam engine and the adoption of the electric motor – each successive invention was more efficient than the last. Today, this need is still great.
Decarbonisation refers to all measures through which a business, government or organisation reduces its carbon footprint. Usually, these are the efforts described to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce one’s impact on the climate.
According to new research by Make UK, formerly known as the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), manufacturers have moved decarbonisation up the priority ladder. In fact, eight in ten companies are now saying it is of high or medium importance to their business.
The research – Decarbonising manufacturing: Challenges and opportunities – shows that companies are accelerating efforts to decarbonise. Crucially, it goes on to state that this is due to rising energy costs, the need to do the right thing, and the rising cost of raw materials.
Energy crisis
On the former, the energy crisis has not only put public awareness to an all-time high, but it is also greatly affecting industries vital to the UK's economy. This comes as 42 percent of manufacturers, from the same research, have seen their electricity bills increase by 100 percent in the last year.
What’s more, for energy-intensive industries like manufacturing, the significant price increases are also inflating production costs. Last year, Eurostat's data revealed a staggering 101 percent increase in energy prices across the EU between March 2021 and 2022, amplifying the financial strain on businesses.
For example, industries such as aluminium smelters are cutting capacity or closing operations. The knock-on effect of this will also be felt by the automotive industry, renewables equipment manufacturers, the construction industry and drinks producers, who will have to find alternative aluminium suppliers.
But mitigating these costs is possible.
Energy efficiency
According to the aforementioned Make UK research, energy efficiency is seen as key to achieving decarbonisation.
Here, 47 percent of manufacturers have already adjusted their business practices to cut energy consumption in response to the energy price hikes in 2022. This is also prompting companies to change their industrial processes to not only become more cost-effective, but sustainable too.
After all, energy efficiency measures aim to use less energy to achieve the same or even improved outcomes. This, in turn, directly contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production and consumption.
Even the International Energy Agency (IEA) published a landmark report pointing out that increased energy efficiency will allow the world economy to grow by 40 percent by 2030 – all while using seven percent less energy than today.
The role of automation
Decarbonisation is often a strategic response to both the energy crisis and long-term sustainability goals.
With that in mind, did you know that automation technologies can be used to optimise and improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes? By automating and controlling systems more effectively, energy consumption can be reduced.
Just look at Hayabusa's Japanese spacecraft, which installed a total of 23,000 bins and 76 robots. This not only translated to a 165 percent sales increase and doubled the warehouse’s original capacity, but also lowered energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions.
Elsewhere, Tesla’s automotive Gigafactory uses automation to streamline production and reduce energy consumption. Tesla has significantly minimised its environmental impact while increasing productivity, simply by automating material handling and deploying energy-efficient equipment.
And the good news is that all of this is achievable with the right automation option. Options, including Beckhoff’s PC-based control system, are a good way to start.
For example, Bennet SpA, an Italian department store group, is using modern building automation in its 73 stores and 45 shopping centres, with Beckhoff's PC-based control. The system is created to achieve flexible designs for varied lighting environments, ensuring energy efficiency and meeting the operator's diverse requirements.
Here, Beckhoff's TwinCAT software enables versatile project implementation, and its distributed control intelligence. aligns with INTEREL's open, cross-platform automation philosophy. Supported interfaces also play a crucial role, facilitating the expansion and modernisation of the ‘Intermod’ automation stations.
From this, among other projects, Beckhoff recently won the 2024 German Sustainability Award, for the transformative measurement and control technology category.
Measurement and control technology play a crucial role in achieving sustainability goals, as the world continues to decarbonise industries and infrastructure. Crucially, technology like this is here today, helping manufacturers to reduce their energy consumption and the environmental impact they have across industries.
For more information about Beckhoff’s secure communication protocol, TwinCAT and other control technology, visit www.beckhoff.com.
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