Ten steps forward

An Energy Efficiency Movement (EEM) report shows how industry can reduce global carbon emissions by 11% by 2030 while saving $437bn annually.

Industry is facing the unprecedented challenge of meeting global decarbonisation targets while addressing growing demand. EEM’s The Case for Industrial Energy Efficiency aims to give managers and leaders insights into ten measures that rely on mature technologies, have a meaningful impact on costs and emissions and can be deployed quickly without complex or expensive projects.

In some instances, the savings arising from efficiency measures mean that transformation projects can be self-funding. Elsewhere, the report reveals investments in efficiency can serve as a valuable hedge against energy and carbon price volatility, while helping to meet voluntary targets and regulatory goals. While some of the measures apply to manufacturing processes, the insights are applicable across all industry. The message is: efficiency begins at home. How can you expect to make carbon and cost savings if you don’t know what your areas of waste and inefficiency are?

According to the International Energy Agency, doubling efficiency by 2030 could cut greenhouse gas emissions by almost a third compared to today’s levels. It called for a ramp-up on annual energy efficiency progress from 2.2% to more than 4% annually by 2030. Furthermore, the IEA stated that achieving this goal of doubling the rate of progress will require a tripling in annual efficiency-related investment, from $600bn today to $1.8tn by the end of the decade.

The EEM views its report as a way of meeting these targets. It estimates that if applied across industry, the ten simple measures could save 1.5 gigatons of carbon emissions a year in 2024, and 4 gigatons by 2030 – the equivalent of taking around three-fifths of the world’s internal combustion vehicles off the roads. These estimates are based on mid-range scenarios, yet still equate to an 11% reduction in annual global carbon forecasts by 2030.

Tarak Mehta, President of Motion Business at ABB, says: “Since renewables can only provide a part of the answer, the critical role energy efficiency plays in accelerating the energy transition toward reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is undeniable. The urgency is for the private sector to act now.”

Download the report at bit.ly/EEM_insights

Ten efficiency measures

1. Move data to the cloud.
2. Deploy smart building management systems.
3. Switch to heat pumps.
4. Maintain efficient heat exchangers.
5. Electrify vehicle fleets.
6. Use variable speed drives.
7. Install high efficiency motors.
8. Bring connectivity to physical assets.
9. Use the correct size industrial assets and processes.
10. Audit operations for energy efficiency.

The EEM is a global forum now consisting of more than 400 organisations that shares ideas, best practices and commitments to energy efficiency. Visit energyefficiencymovement.com

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