Industrial Companies Met to Discuss Energy Efficiency and Their Net Zero Plans
Industrial players currently face a double challenge: how can they battle increasing costs for energy and reduce emissions at the same time. This double challenge has also been the main topic of the Business Breakfast organised by Bilfinger, one of the leading international providers of industrial services in Eastern Europe, in Bucharest this May. Bilfinger experts discussed with representatives of major industrial investors what the challenges are and how to ensure that their operations are energy efficient or even self-sufficient.
One of the drivers of these initiatives – the European Green Deal, has established a 2050 net-zero emissions target to tackle climate change. The manufacturing and energy sectors are responsible for at least 40% of European emissions and are key in the transition to a low-carbon economy. These targets also apply to companies in Romania, where a huge shift towards renewable resources and energy efficient/sustainable solutions is expected.
“We see that many industrial players in Romania are already in the process of transition, but those that have not yet started the decarbonisation process will face challenges in reaching the EU’s ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030,” said George Cursaru, Southeast Europe industrial markets expert at Bilfinger. “In ideal circumstances, it can take the company up to 5-6 years from the initial idea to the end of the execution phase,” specified George Cursaru.
Clear roadmap to net zero targets
Plenty of companies are still looking for a clear roadmap and actions/milestones to be set and achieved towards carbon neutrality targets or energy transition plans.
To address these needs, energy transition experts at Bilfinger Tebodin have developed a 6-step approach to CO2 Master planning on how to reduce CO2 emissions of industrial companies. This means, in effect, that they look at every scope of emissions that the company produces and, as a result, provide a comprehensive roadmap with clear measures and actions that need to be taken to achieve net-zero targets and meet the ambitions of each individual client.
The six steps consist of phases that focus on initiation, assessment, and planning: Process analysis (1), Base case analysis (2), Environmental analysis (3), Energy/CO2 savings potential assessment (4), Risks, opportunities, and cost planning (5), NetZero (Energy transition) roadmap. Based on the NetZero roadmap the project itself can move to engineering and execution phase.
Each of these steps requires expert insight based on market know-how, the most innovative practices, and numerous implementations. For example, during the Process analysis (1) the available data is to be collected – about the plant, operations, or technology. Base case analysis (2) involves formulating starting points for the roadmap, as well as the initial recording of emissions. Environmental analysis (3) provides the investor with the background for the project – legislation, potential subsidies, and state-sponsored programmes.
“There is no shortcut in this six-step journey, each of the steps is important for the quality of the final achievement,” explained George Cursaru. He also added: “The final outcome of all those steps is a CO2 reduction roadmap with clear actions and measures leading to targeted energy optimisation, efficiency and (or) transition goals.”
Partner for the journey
The CO2 reduction roadmap is indeed a start. Companies that are done with analysis and planning are looking at how to implement these steps. “Our position is unique in the market because we can provide all related services from a single source,” explains Florin Prunaru, Bilfinger’s Process Engineering Director in Romania. “From mature activities like District Heating or Flue Gas Cleaning to new areas such as Green Hydrogen, Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage (CCUS), Power/Waste-to-X or Energy Efficiency, Bilfinger is constantly developing its capabilities to better serve its customers throughout the value chain. With one global partner, they have a single point of contact and uniform quality and safety standards worldwide,” he added.
