For many industries, the challenge of balancing decarbonization with profitability can feel like a constant tug-of-war.
But it is possible to be a sustainable business – one that achieves long-term commercial success without compromising environmental responsibility; a business that understands that pursuing a robust bottom line does not have to come at the expense of our environment. It measures success in both cash and carbon.
One way to achieve this objective is to understand how your electrical infrastructure is contributing to, and perhaps detracting from, both environmental and commercial success.
But before the energy efficiency of a system can be optimized, and before the ecological impact of your infrastructure can be measured and improved, you need to establish a baseline of safe, reliable and – most importantly – available energy.
If you don’t have that safe, reliable and available supply, you do not have the foundation on which to build a program of sustainability.
Proactive, predictive asset management and maintenance – as well as modernizing obsolete equipment – not only improves reliability and safety, it also reduces operational costs and carbon emissions, creating a win-win situation for both the bottom line and environmental goals.
Protecting people, equipment and data
A business can’t operate if its people aren’t safe. In the world of electrical infrastructure, risks to personal safety are numerous, and if something goes wrong, sometimes fatal.
Take, for example, arc flashes. An arc flash is the sure sign of a serious fault within a power system. They can lead to significant injuries to personnel as well as causing extensive damage to electrical infrastructure. Add in the associated delays caused by such a failure, and the mitigation of arc flash incidents becomes a serious concern.
Taking a comprehensive approach to assessing and managing arc flash hazards in electrical systems involves determining the risk level at various locations, measuring arc flash energy and boundaries, and establishing required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Safety assessments such as these should evaluate existing and planned equipment, explore mitigation options like upgrading protection relays and implementing detection systems, and offer training for on-site personnel to enhance safety and compliance.
Of course, safety extends beyond the physical danger that your people might face on the ground.
In an increasingly connected world, where the Internet of Things has expanded to encompass industrial electrical assets as well as other operational technology, the cybersecurity of your sites should be assessed alongside the physical aspects of safety.
The first step is to know that your business is at risk, and work on developing a roadmap toward mitigation. When it comes to cybersecurity, higher-maturity organisations have automation built into their systems, and continual data analysis that identifies fresh threats and vulnerabilities.
Increased cost savings and reliability
The latest advancements in electrical infrastructure technology can lead to significant savings in both costs and carbon, as well as improving the reliability of your existing assets.
Before embarking on an upgrade program, however, it’s vital that you understand your starting point. A Power System Study gives you the insights you need to undertake large-scale upgrade projects, as well as expansions and planning for future load growth.
This was the task facing one of the largest food supply chain companies when it wanted to manage a transition to a more digitized way of manufacturing. With 1200 plants worldwide, it needed a partner that could handle a global study.
ABB Electrification Service worked with the company to perform 6000 studies, and once the results of the investigations are provided to the client, it will have total understanding of its global operations. It will take the data provided and create plans that will reduce energy costs, maintenance bills, improve the availability and reliability of power, and of course improve sustainability.
By upgrading to the latest digital technology that delivers real-time data about the status of your electrical assets, you can manage energy use – reducing energy bills and minimizing emissions.
Using this real time monitoring technology to avoid energy price spikes, the world’s largest recycler of end-of-life tires was able to save over USD$1.3 million annually for a single facility, generating a 25x return on investment.
Accessing this kind of real-time data also allows organizations to embrace predictive maintenance practices, which can boost productivity by 25%, reduce breakdowns by 70%, and lower maintenance costs by 25%, according to research by the Deloitte Analytics Institute.
Emissions reduction and compliance through energy assessments and real-time carbon monitoring
Sometimes the hardest part in the journey towards net zero is being able to collect data and set a baseline. It’s an essential first step, and allows organizations to define current emissions and set realistic and measurable reduction targets.
Additionally, a baseline helps organizations to track their progress over time and adjust sustainability initiatives as needed.
That’s why ABB Navigate guides customers through the entire process using smart thinking and new technologies to recommend the most appropriate business decisions to get them to net zero. For example, through energy density mapping, a major pharmaceutical company was able to report the energy and carbon content of a single tablet coming off its production line for ESG reporting.
During the process, ABB engineers suggested swapping the C3 type motors used to drive conveyors on their production lines with C5 type, making an energy saving of 30% on each motor with a payback of less than 12 months.
When it comes to establishing your electrical infrastructure and building the basis for a sustainable future, our Advisory Services offer valuable support. We work with businesses to understand their requirements through systems studies and health checks, helping them improve productivity and safety, as well as achieve net zero and meet regulatory goals.
