September 2021

31 www.drivesncontrols.com September 2021 ENERGY EFFICIENCY n T he idea of achieving net-zero emissions is not new, but has certainly risen in prominence of late. Recent freak weather incidents such as the flooding in Germany, or the wildfires in the US and around the Mediterranean, have been widely attributed to rising global temperatures which has, naturally, caused people to look for possible solutions. The global movement towards net-zero is one of the most important tools we have to fight back against future climate catastrophes. However, there remains a disconnect between lofty, Government-set targets and how the average business can play a role. Technology is part of the answer and offers the most significant tool industry has on its side. For example, ultra-high efficiency IE5 synchronous reluctance (SynRM) motors – which meet the highest standards of the recent Ecodesign updates – can be deployed quickly, boast a smaller footprint and are no more expensive than an equivalent standard induction motor. Add that to the significant uplift in energy efficiency you get from using optimised, matched SynRMmotor and drive packages and you get a credible, effective weapon in the push towards decarbonisation. Yet technology alone cannot be relied upon to deliver the changes needed if industry is to meet its 2050 deadline of achieving net-zero. Indeed, some industries, such as water, have pledged to meet net-zero well before 2050. Organisations of every shape and every size need to evaluate and assess their energy usage and identify ways in which they can become more efficient. This starts at the top. There are several simple steps organisations can take to help them achieve their efficiency goals. And, while there is a technology element woven throughout, these steps can be applied to any business. One of the first, and most important, steps is to identify ownership. Who is responsible for assessing and monitoring energy consumption in the organisation? Are these people empowered to propose changes that could help increase plant efficiency? For larger organisations, there could be opportunities to optimise processes across the board, but if nobody has responsibility to identify them, the benefits may not be achieved. Another key point centres around understanding the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a project. Upgrading to energy- efficient technologies does require an initial investment, yet the total savings – in terms of reduced energy consumption and lower costs – mean these up-front costs can often be recouped in as little as a year. The savings, however, go on for the lifetime of the system. Hence, TCO is a method of planning what the entire lifecycle of the system will be, from upfront investment to ongoing optimisation and maintenance, while also factoring in the reduction in outgoing costs. Legislation, including the Climate Change Act 2008, applies a degree of mandatory compliance. Many of the steps an organisation can take are, fundamentally, discretionary yet, thanks to statutes such as the Paris Agreement and the Ecodesign directive, there are Government-decreed demands on reducing carbon emissions and increasing the efficiency of a plant. Again, technologies such as IE5 motor-drive packages are crucial, while the expansion of Ecodesign to include VSDs in their own category is a step in the right direction. Finally, targeting and measurement should form the backbone of any net-zero strategy. As with any project, there will need to be a plan containing goals and measurements. It may be your organisation prioritising lower operating costs, or a 25% reduction in energy use. Whichever metric you employ, or target you aspire to, having defined numbers in place enables your business to monitor progress and, if necessary, adjust your strategy to ensure you meet your obligations. Achieving net-zero, as an economy, will require a combination of innovation, technology, and old-fashioned British ingenuity. We have the technology, and it continues to evolve and offer ever-greater levels of efficiency without sacrificing productivity. Finding the most effective ways to utilise that technology and looking critically at the wider areas of your business will give us the best chance to avoid some of the worst effects of global warming. We can’t say we haven’t been warned. n Achieving net-zero by 2050 is ambitious, but failure is not an option. By employing existing and emerging technologies, there’s confidence this target can be met, but it won’t happen without collaboration, ownership, and pragmatism, argues ABB UK’s managing director, David Hughes. High-efficiency technologies such as IE5 motors can help in in the push towards decarbonisation Are businesses switching on to net-zero at last?