With buildings accounting for 40 percent of global greenhouse gases1, there is an urgent need to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency solutions enabling building owners reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.
At the Rexel Expo in France this summer, long-term partners ABB and Rexel demonstrated their shared commitment to this goal, showcasing their new combined plug and play ABB Ability™ Building Management Solution (BMS) with ABB i-bus® KNX. The solution ensures energy savings without neglecting the comfort of building occupants through automatic control of lighting, blinds, heating, and air conditioning.
The Rexel Expo event welcomed over 22,000 visitors this year, including end users, system integrators, Original Equipment Manufacturers and facility managers. Visitors had the opportunity to experience firsthand the simplicity of the system, which optimizes energy management, increases the value of facilities, and reduces operating and maintenance costs. Visitors also learnt about the potential financing opportunities for the combined plug and play solution through financial aid and the BACS and Tertiary Decrees in the EU. The BACS (Building Automation & Control System) decree, which came into effect in July 2020, requires owners of commercial buildings to install a building automation and control system. The solution developed by Energisme perfectly meets this regulatory obligation and is part of the approach to optimize the energy performance of buildings in the EU.
Innovative and connected solutions
Beyond smart building management, digitalization is transforming the entire arena of electrical distribution and ABB’s stand also reflected this. Designed around the 2022 Rexel expo’s theme, ‘Innovate to Last’, ABB’s state-of-the-art, connected exhibit featured its latest developments in energy efficiency, electric mobility and connected solutions with equal emphasis placed on energy distribution, management, and optimization.
Digitalization of energy management and distribution was demonstrated utilizing ABB’s System pro E® power and System pro E® energy - offering simplicity in planning and configuration, quick assembly and maximum safety in application.
ABB also promoted its electric mobility portfolio. With transport being one of the main contributors to CO2 emissions worldwide, making up approximately 24 percent2 of global carbon emissions. ABB continually innovates in this area to help drive broader adoption of electrification in rail, bus, plane, and car travel. The main highlights from ABB included their latest electric vehicle chargers that can be used at home such as the Terra AC wallbox and high-power chargers like the Terra DC wallbox, a system that provides fast charging for residential, office, commercial and public use in an ultra-compact design.
Creating a collaborative value chain
The partnership between ABB and Rexel highlights the general need for a collaborative approach to addressing the world’s energy distribution challenges and making meaningful change for future generations.
“ABB and Rexel are strengthening their partnership so that manufacturers and distributors can respond with one voice to the challenges of digitalization, innovation, performance and operational excellence,” said Cyril Dayon, Director of Distribution ABB France. “In order to face the energy transition challenges, the pooling of our know-how will make it possible to provide appropriate economic and technical responses around three key pillars: energy distribution, building automation and electric mobility.”
Other ABB collaborations in the smart buildings sector include global partnerships such as BrainBox AI and Samsung Electronics, and more local cooperation’s such as the Smart Building Alliance in France. ABB is also the official partner of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, and, starting from 2023, will become the official supplier of EV charging infrastructure for season 9 of the FIA Formula E World Championship.
For more information:
ABB Ability™ Building Management Solution
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
ABB’s Electrification Business Area is a global leader in electrical products and solutions, operating in more than 100 countries, with over 200 manufacturing sites. Our 50,000+ employees are dedicated to transforming how people live, connect and work by delivering safe, smart and sustainable electrification solutions. We are shaping the future trends of electrification, differentiating through technological and digital innovation while delivering an outstanding experience through operational excellence for our customers across utilities, industry, buildings, infrastructure and mobility. go.abb/electrification
1 IEA, Global energy use and energy-related CO2 emissions by sector, 2020, IEA, Paris Global energy use and energy-related CO2 emissions by sector, 2020 – Charts – Data & Statistics – IEA
2 The World Resource Institute’s Climate Data Explorer, 2016, Data Explorer | Climate Watch (climatewatchdata.org)
