Sustainable energy management in manufacturing – what does it mean in practice in Polish reality?

Sustainable energy management in manufacturing – what does it mean in practice in Polish reality?

31/03/2023
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Sustainability is one of the key elements of current industrial policy. The depletion of energy resources and the need to take care of the environment, coupled with the energy crisis and the resulting unstable economic situation, make manufacturing companies focus particular attention on sensible resource management. What is sustainable energy management in production and what benefits does it bring?

Sustainable energy management – new challenges for manufacturing

Sustainable energy management in the context of production processes is characterised by maximising efficiency while reducing waste of resources. The aim is therefore to efficiently create high-quality products and minimise waste.

Sustainable production as the standard of the future

One of the documents describing the latest standards for sustainable energy management is the report A new EU action plan on a closed loop economy for a cleaner and more competitive Europe.

The main assumption discussed in the report is the creation of a closed-loop economy, including the pursuit of closed-loop production processes. In order to meet this premise, companies need to take measures to minimise the energy used and reduce the amount of waste generated. Closed-loop models can increase the profitability of production facilities while protecting them from resource price fluctuations.

To create a closed loop, tools are needed to monitor resource consumption. The report in question encourages the use of modern digital technologies to track, trace and map resources. Digital transformation solutions help track products, components and materials and provide access to the resulting data.

Sustainable energy management as a way to optimise environmental charges

The Environmental Protection Act requires industrial plants to pay fees for the use of the environment, i.e. the emission of substances such as gases and dust discharged into the air or the storage of waste. The Water Law, on the other hand, is responsible for regulations related to the abstraction of surface water and groundwater, as well as the discharge of wastewater into water and soil.

Companies are responsible for calculating the amount of the environmental fee due themselves, according to the data contained in the inventories maintained – otherwise, the fee will be calculated on the basis of the relevant authority’s own findings or on the basis of an audit commissioned by it. Exceeding or breaching the conditions risks a financial penalty and, in case of doubt about the data submitted in the inventory, the difference between the amount paid and the amount due as determined by the responsible authority may have to be surcharged. In order to avoid problems and inaccuracies in this respect, the best solution is therefore an emissions inventory about which there is not the slightest doubt.

When it comes to production costs, it is also worth mentioning the EU ETS, the EU’s CO2 emissions trading scheme designed for, among others, energy-intensive industries. Similar schemes are also being set up on the global market. Regardless of location, the aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the case of the ETS, this is done by including the cost of their emissions in the production of energy and industrial products. One EUA (European Union Allowance) entitles the holder to emit one tonne of CO2 into the environment. The number of allowances in circulation depends on the limits set by the EU. A gradual reduction in the volume of available allowances is one way to encourage companies to use more climate-friendly technologies. The ANT EMS system for energy management and utility consumption monitoring is such a technology.

How do I determine the amount of environmental charges due?

There is no room for costly mistakes when it comes to determining environmental charges, which is why many companies choose the services of professional providers of specialised environmental waste measurement, on the basis of which the charges due can be determined in detail. When calculating costs at our clients’ sites, the EMS system, which collects actual utility consumption data by line, department or each unit produced, proves helpful. The periodic reports generated make it possible to calculate the costs associated with the consumption of utilities and to estimate future costs associated with the emission of gases into the environment.

Energy Monitoring System (EMS) Dashboard - View on production energy consumption

Energy Monitoring System (EMS) Dashboard – View on production energy consumption

How to effectively manage energy in a production facility? Explore the possibilities of ANT EMS!

The ANT EMS energy management system is a proven and effective solution to support industrial plants in the sustainable management of energy and other utilities.

The system enables:

  • monitoring consumption per location, department or line,
  • a month-by-month comparison of media consumption,
  • live monitoring of media consumption,
  • monitoring KPIs related to energy consumption,
  • calculating the actual cost of utility consumption per product,
  • control of the amount of utilities consumed with alerts to warn of imminent excesses (Power Guard),
  • meter diagnostics.

Why implement modern energy management software? Here are some of the many benefits of using an EMS system!

  • The EMS system provides the opportunity to read data from both newer and older installations.
  • Integration with all equipment and other ANT systems allows bottlenecks affecting energy wastage to be instantly located and then effective steps taken to remove them.
  • The EMS system also makes it possible to show the exact consumption of utilities per unit of product, underpinned by actual, irrefutable data.
  • Forecasting costs and being aware of your energy expenditure is a way to be proactive in optimising your utility costs, essential with ever-increasing energy prices.
  • The system also supports industrial companies in estimating the environmental charges due.

ANT EMS is a comprehensive solution for monitoring various utilities – not only electricity, but also water, gas, compressed air, special fluids, steam, etc. All utility consumption data for the plant is available online in a single system.

Why make the case for sustainable energy management in manufacturing now?

Many solutions related to sustainable energy management are currently voluntary, but more and more restrictive regulations are emerging. Current recommendations will soon become the norm in production facilities. This can be seen, for example, in plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. According to the report discussed in the article, the New EU Action Plan on a Closed Economy for a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe, “the commission, in cooperation with national authorities, will step up efforts to enforce existing sustainability requirements for products placed on the market”.

By implementing energy management and utility monitoring software now, industrial plants are taking a step towards sustainable production. The result is a strengthened competitive position in the market, as well as adequate preparation for upcoming restrictions. Of course, the reduction of ongoing production costs is also an undeniable benefit.

Prepare your production facility for the inevitable changes. Manage energy wisely and optimise utility consumption with modern software for the smart factory!

Get more information about systems for manufacturing: https://antsolutions.eu/