Made UK: Energy efficiency is key to meeting net zero target

The British manufacturers organization "Make UK" has published the following statement:

"Manufacturers have been hit by soaring gas and electricity prices hitting record highs, leaving businesses desperate to cut their energy use, according to a new report Driving Industrial Energy Efficiencies, published today by Make UK and Inspired PLC. The new research delves into how energy-efficient practices and technologies can help companies save money and boost productivity while at the same time moving towards their Net Zero targets.

Net Zero is a priority for 92% or businesses and 68% have already made investments to start on that journey with two-fifths (22%) planning to in the next 12 months

Over the past two years, the cost of energy has been highly turbulent, exacerbated by an increase in operational costs. This has left manufacturers forced to operate with a significantly reduced margin, making introducing energy efficiency projects an attractive proposition.

Today’s report shows that businesses have been taking a two pronged approach reducing energy consumption, from low-cost, low effort measures to more costly investments which deliver equipment and process upgrades. Simple steps such as getting the right energy supplier and securing an advantageous contract is critical. Monitoring energy use through smart metres and sub-metering can further cut consumption, providing more granular detail of unnecessary use. One rubber compound manufacturer saved £62,734 through a better energy contract and over £48,000 by reducing waste through circuit-level (sub-meter) monitoring.

Equipping plant machinery with meter reading tools or sensors, can offer real time data access by connecting it to the cloud (Internet of Things Technologies), enabling faults to be spotted as they happen. Implementing Voltage Optimisation, which only allows the exact amount of energy a business needs to be brought in from the National Grid, can also make significant savings. While overhauling compressors – which account for 10% of all industrial energy used - can cut energy consumption by 50%.

One energy intensive company which galvanises plant equipment introduced digital controls to deliver variable on-demand power to its furnaces, saving £400,000 on energy bills and reducing its carbon output by 1000 tonnes."

Source: Make UK, Photo: Fotolia