Carbon neutral in the future: How to make the energy transition in your company a success

Modern energy management solutions rely on digitalization: The energy consumption of locations, buildings and machines is recorded and continuously analyzed. This creates transparency about all consumption and thus the basis for deriving the most important measures for increasing energy efficiency and reducing the CO₂ balance sheet.

After the implementation, continuous analysis and further optimization is carried out to keep energy consumption as low as possible. Such a system also supports the Bosch locations in their efforts to achieve CO₂ neutrality. Using an intelligent energy platform, the energy and resource consumption of more than 100 plants and locations of the Bosch Group worldwide is checked in real time and continuously optimized. The Bosch Energy Platform can also be used for other Industry 4.0 applications.

CO₂ emissions in production plants are mainly caused by the provision of process heat or cooling, mechanical energy, heat or lighting. In order to reduce these energy-related emissions sustainably, companies should use efficient technologies and decentralized generation models. In general, it is often possible to save considerably more energy and thus emissions than is generally thought. This starts with lighting and extends to demand-based control of ventilation systems, heat recovery concepts and switch-off management in production. Which measures are particularly useful for increasing energy efficiency in the long term is best worked out individually.

In fact, many plants used by companies to generate electricity, heat, steam, compressed air and refrigeration are inefficient or outdated. Modern technologies can help to sustainably reduce around 20 to 30 percent of the energy consumed. This not only saves CO₂, but also a lot of money in the long term. So this investment is worthwhile!

Most energy is consumed in manufacturing companies in production. This holds enormous potential! To tap this potential, however, you need experienced experts. Many different projects show that a high consumption and permanent cost reduction is already possible with a short payback time. A holistic view of resource efficiency makes it possible to implement particularly intelligent concepts - and not only in the field of electricity. Carbon neutrality in the area of heat is also possible.

One step that has a positive ecological and economic impact is the switch to renewable energy sources such as solar energy or biomass from renewable raw materials. After all, fossil fuels are finite and are becoming increasingly expensive. Anyone who relies on renewable energies for the generation of process heat, for example, sustainably protects the climate and can also benefit from economic advantages.

With energy performance contracting, you outsource the responsibility for achieving your savings targets to a third party. The contractor is responsible for the design, planning, financing, implementation and proof of success. Investments and services during the contract period are refinanced by guaranteed energy cost savings.

Because here you look at the reduction of CO₂ emissions across the entire value chain of your company and do not just focus on energy resources. This not only allows you to achieve greater economic benefits, but also to further improve your company's carbon footprint.