In a remarkable stride towards sustainability, an Italian production facility has embraced a Net Zero blueprint, marking a significant shift towards environmental consciousness and energy efficiency. This milestone achievement has been realized through the adoption of renewable energy sources, an innovative smart grid infrastructure, and the installation of photovoltaic panels.
675 Tonnes of CO2 Emissions Cut-off
According to the company's report, the Santa Palomba, Italy, location of ABB's residual current device (RCD) and energy metre manufacturing facility is cutting 675 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. 25% of the site's energy is currently provided by a new photovoltaic system in addition to its current sustainable sources.
The Smart Buildings factory of ABB Electrification employs over 350 people and produces over 16 million devices annually. Since 2019, the Santa Palomba facility has only purchased electricity from renewable sources. Aiming to fulfil its goal to reduce carbon emissions, the team there worked with Laziale Distribuzione, a logistics partner, to execute a cutting-edge smart grid project.
The company's warehouses close to the ABB plant currently have almost 3,000 solar panels placed on them, with a peak power of 1.52 MW. In keeping with the cooperative spirit of combating climate change, photovoltaic shelters have also been erected in the parking lot, providing electricity for 17 electric charging stations used by the company's fleet of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Renewable Energy Sources Utilized
The facility's commitment to sustainability is evident in its utilization of renewable energy sources. By harnessing the power of renewable resources, such as solar and wind energy, the facility has significantly reduced its carbon footprint while ensuring a clean and sustainable energy supply. This shift towards renewable energy contributes to mitigating climate change and aligns with global efforts to transition towards a greener future.
The installation of the ABB Ability building management software solution allows for the real-time monitoring and optimization of energy consumption at the Santa Palomba site, providing the site's team with valuable insights that can be accessed either on-site or remotely.
This software solution plays a crucial role in managing energy efficiency across various systems, including air conditioning, compressed air, air intake, and lighting, with the latter already being fully transitioned to LED technology. Additionally, Santa Palomba aims to replace its boilers with high-efficiency heat pumps by 2025 as part of its commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Facility Aligns With ABB's 'Mission to Zero' Journey
Mike Mustapha, President of ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings, emphasized the importance of integrating renewable energy sources and increasing electrification to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. He highlighted that the Santa Palomba operations facility aligns with ABB's 'Mission to Zero' journey, which prioritizes sustainability and resource efficiency. By empowering customers worldwide to optimize, electrify, and decarbonize their operations, ABB remains dedicated to fostering a more sustainable future for all.
"Much more electric power will be required to power the cities and structures in which we live and work. We adhere to the 'Mission to Zero' journey's guiding principles at our operations site in Santa Palomba. It is an ongoing project that demonstrates our dedication to making the future more resource-efficient and sustainable for all of us. We enable clients worldwide to optimise, electrify, and decarbonise their operations on a daily basis,” Mustapha noted.
In comparison to the 2019 baseline, the firm aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. This goal is supported by the ABB Mission to Zero programme. Driven by regional teams, the sites concentrate on enhancing productivity by employing ABB's cutting-edge technology and third-party integration for energy generation, management, and storage.
A key component of the facility's sustainability initiative is the installation of photovoltaic panels. These solar panels, strategically placed across the facility's premises, harness sunlight and convert it into electricity, providing a renewable power source to support its operations. By leveraging solar energy, the facility not only reduces its reliance on conventional energy sources but also contributes to the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.