ABB & Cambridge to tackle the manufacturing energy crisis

As rising energy costs and calls to lower emissions continue to ramp up, ABB has teamed up with the University of Cambridge to tackle the industry energy crisis head-on.

The Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing's Engage (IfM Engage) scheme is working with the firm to map out a blueprint for stabilising energy grids, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and making systems more energy efficient - which could cut costs significantly.

Read more: A world first: carbon-neutral flat glass is made using green energy

Much of the technology and tactics for going greener are difficult to grasp - particularly for those lagging behind. Put simply, the blueprint is being designed to make the energy transition less complex, striving for "effective change" across the board.

This could be as simple as integrating solar panels into a building's design to allow for some self-generation or as complex as using virtual reality to run tests and diagnostics to deal with production hitches.

Exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis in Europe is partly owed to the continent's reliance on Russian gas, the supply of which had been throttled late last year.

In 2021, the World Bank warned that energy prices in 2022 would average out at 80% higher than in 2020, which has only been worsened by geopolitical tensions. Owing to current geopolitical tensions, its forecast has shifted, suggesting prices may rise by as much as a further 50% before the end of 2022.

These shifts in the energy landscape have fundamentally changed the pace at which governments are looking to phase out fossil fuels.

Both the UK and EU are looking to significantly increase their commitments to net-zero by focusing on investments in renewable infrastructure and nuclear energy.

Energy alternatives such as green hydrogen have seen significant strides since the February invasion, despite the fact it was "already set to take off", according to analyst firm Rystad Energy.

Read more: Rystad: Soaring costs could threaten adoption of solar power

In addition, many companies, such as shipping giant Maersk, have also pulled out of Russia, meaning they will likely also need to invest in tech to go greener.

The two partners are looking to see how a "strategic approach" to energy efficiency can help lower overall output relative to operations while helping companies "go digital" - to help cut operating and energy costs.

“Sometimes organisations make the mistake of looking at what technologies can help them to ‘go digital’, without considering the broader context including where value can be created and what pain points could benefit most from digitalization. Do not build on the status quo but think about your ideal future scenario - then develop a roadmap for your digital transformation", said Dr Clemens Chaskel, Industrial Associate, IfM Engage.

"It's not the technology that makes your digital transformation successful, but it’s how it is applied during road-mapping, the vital component is establishing connections between those strategic elements to ensure that every item on the roadmap has a purpose".

ABB hopes this collaboration will better help its customers prepare for future trends and deal with future crises a little better while also scouting for opportunities for its customers to make more money.

For example, the firm is looking at implementing mobile technology that enables facility managers to connect with ABB's energy management software directly via smartphone in fewer than three clicks or by scanning a QR code.

“[The roadmap] will improve technology strategy, R&D projects, customer deliverables and help anticipate future trends, which has the potential to shape the energy management systems of the future. The next step is to turn this blueprint into real-world actions,” said Giampiero Frisio, ABB Smart Power Division President.  

The double-whammy of the coronavirus pandemic and the energy crisis has left a number of industrial sectors in a precarious position. Costs continue to rise and there is increasing pressure on companies to become more sustainable.

At its core is contact between research centres and industry, with the former having already having developed some solutions, such as management systems, storage facilities and microgrids.

ABB told Industry Europe that some of its schemes, such as its startup challenge conducted alongside Microsoft to find companies to help drive the electrification of industry, may also be covered by the roadmap. This covered several key sectors, such as smart factories, smart grids and simulation technology.

These startups, directly funded by both tech giants, will provide services that could aid in the decarbonisation of businesses and facilities.

Several companies are looking into increasing operational efficiency, usually as a way of mitigating the effects of future crises such as a pandemic.

There are numerous technologies out there to address hitches in production, including tomography - a healthcare tech - that is being pioneered in hard-to-abate sectors such as oil and gas.

Industry Europe spoke with Rocsole back in March about the interesting applications of the technology.

Read more: How this healthcare tech can aid in the energy transition

Rocsole CEO Mika Tienhaara said that even the fossil fuel industry can become more energy-efficient, ultimately leading to emissions reduction as a short-term alternative to renewable energy.

ABB has become something of a driving force for greener manufacturing in Europe, having retrofitted factories to reduce energy waste - ultimately saving smaller or medium-sized firms a lot of money in the long run.

One of the key technologies for making manufacturing more efficient is the rise of Industry 4.0 concepts such as automation and robotics.

However, these robots will typically require pushes into electrification and smart grids to operate properly. They do, however, typically run at relatively low emissions and are not prone to human error or fatigue.

Robot NGOs such as the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) see increasing automation as essential in the energy transition as robots can be used in various sectors, from agriculture to energy, working jobs that humans either can't or should not be doing.

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