ABB Installs 3,000 Photovoltaic Panels in Santa Palomba

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A Major Leap in Decarbonization

ABB’s manufacturing site in Santa Palomba, Italy, has taken a significant step forward in its sustainability journey by completing a large-scale solar energy project. The installation of over 3,000 photovoltaic panels is set to slash the facility’s carbon emissions by an impressive 675 tonnes each year. This initiative is a cornerstone of the site’s Net Zero blueprint, aligning with ABB’s corporate-wide ‘Mission to Zero’ program aimed at enhancing resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

Project Scope and Energy Generation

The new solar installation, developed in partnership with logistics firm Laziale Distribuzione, boasts a peak power capacity of 1.52 MW. The panels have been strategically placed on the rooftops of warehouses adjacent to the ABB plant, which employs over 350 people and produces more than 16 million devices annually. This powerful photovoltaic system now generates approximately 25% of the factory’s total energy requirements. This on-site generation complements the facility’s existing policy, in place since 2019, of purchasing electricity exclusively from certified renewable sources.

Smart Grid Integration and Advanced Management

Beyond simple energy generation, the project establishes an innovative smart grid to optimize power usage. Photovoltaic shelters were also constructed in the facility’s parking lot, which power 17 charging stations for ABB’s fleet of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. To intelligently manage this new ecosystem, the site utilizes the ABB Ability™ building management software. This platform provides the Santa Palomba team with real-time data and remote access to monitor and control energy consumption across various systems, including air conditioning, compressed air, and lighting, which has already been fully converted to energy-efficient LED technology.

Commitment to a Sustainable Future

Mike Mustapha, President of ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings division, emphasized the project’s alignment with corporate strategy. “We adhere to the ‘Mission to Zero’ journey’s guiding principles at our operations site in Santa Palomba,” he stated. “It is an ongoing project that demonstrates our dedication to making the future more resource-efficient and sustainable for all of us.” As part of this commitment, the Santa Palomba site plans to further decarbonize its operations by replacing its fossil-fuel-based boilers with high-efficiency heat pumps by 2025. ABB’s overarching goal under the Mission to Zero program is to achieve an 80% reduction in its CO2 emissions by 2030, based on a 2019 baseline.

Sources

1. [PDF] ABB Integrated Report 2023
2. ABB: Increasing Sustainability at Global Manufacturing Sites
3. ABB manufacturing site in Santa Palomba reducing carbon …
4. Flagship factory offers blueprint for low carbon manufacturing – ABB
5. [PDF] ABB Sustainability Report 2021
6. [PDF] Sustainability – ABB
7. ABB MANUFACTURING SITE IN SANTA PALOMBA REDUCING …
8. ABB’s Xiamen manufacturing site sets the benchmark for … – alcircle

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