The consumption of a certain amount of energy is CO2-neutral if it has no influence on the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. CO2 neutrality can be achieved either by using CO2-free energy sources or through appropriate compensation measures. With our customised CO2 concepts, you can reach your goal faster and save money too.
Strategies for CO2 reduction
Many companies are now pursuing the goal of realizing CO2-free energy consumption at their production facilities in the medium term. In most cases, the aim here is not just short-term green washing. Rather, the CO2 reduction should be of lasting value.
175 companies such as Microsoft, Nestle, Kellogs, Ikea and the BMW Group have committed to becoming "100% renewable" as part of the RE100 initiative. These companies are already taking measures to reduce their energy requirements and utilize renewable energies. Munich Airport also wants to reduce its CO2 emissions to zero by 2030. German car manufacturers and their suppliers also want to produce more sustainably. At Daimler, for example, all plants in Europe are to be CO2-neutral by the end of 2022.
CO2-NEUTRAL PRODUCTION - HOW DOES IT WORK IN PRACTICE?
A factory can be described as CO2-neutral if no climate-damaging emissions are produced or if these can be offset. Priority should be given to reducing emissions within the factory through energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies. The remaining energy procurement can then be made CO2-free through offsetting measures. The location for the implementation of compensation measures can be arbitrary, as the greenhouse effect is a global problem.
In order to use resources as efficiently as possible, a concept for realizing a CO2-neutral production facility should be structured in several stages and implemented in a specific order.
INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION CONCEPTS ARE IN DEMAND!
Global companies are asking themselves in which country they should prioritize renewable energy for which production sites. The country-specific framework conditions are of particular importance here: Status and promotion of renewable energies, structuring of the green electricity market, quality labels or quality certificates for green electricity, price situation for renewable energies (green electricity and heat, biomethane), possible suppliers for a green energy supply, etc.
I have been planning and realising generation plants in large industrial companies for many years. Many of our customers attach great importance to integrating renewable energy sources. In recent years, we have received more and more customer enquiries about concepts for CO2-free energy supply for entire production sites.
Andreas Reichel
Head of Energy Generation and Distribution
How climate-friendly are your products?
Determine the carbon footprint of your products. The product carbon footprint is a measure of all greenhouse gas emissions that occur during the product life cycle. All direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions of a product are taken into account. We help you to determine the carbon footprint of your products.
Selected projects
The aim of these projects was to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and to develop concepts for a CO2-neutral production site.
As part of the company’s internal sustainability strategy, the company is expanding its existing energy supply with several wood gasification CHP units, biomass boilers, a large buffer storage and several PV systems. The aim is to generate climate-friendly and renewable electricity and heat to supply the company’s own production halls.
MAN Truck & Bus SE has set itself an ambitious goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025 compared to 2015. The introduction of the energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001:2018 in all plants and the continuous further development of the CO2 roadmap are essential building blocks for the Group on the way to achieving this goal.
In order to replace the climate-damaging fuel lignite with CO2-free heat, the site managers decided to connect the plant to the local district heating network of N-Ergie. In addition to the conversion of the heat supply, several optimisation measures in the local heating network were also investigated in order to achieve the maximum CO2 savings.
In Lauterbach Castle, which has been owned by the von Hundt family since the 15th century, the ageing oil heating system was replaced by a woodchip heating system. A neighbouring residential building is also supplied with heat via this. eta Energieberatung was commissioned to plan the woodchip heating system with a connected local heating network.
Climate change
The Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 stipulated that the global temperature rise should be limited to two degrees this century by reducing the greenhouse gas CO2. According to the German government's climate protection plan, Germany should not be "largely greenhouse gas neutral" until 2050. However, climate protection should not be seen as a long-term long-term goal, it must be realised in the short term.
GREENHOUSE GASES
Greenhouse gases are trace gases in the earth's atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect (warming of the earth's atmosphere). They absorb some of the thermal radiation emitted from the ground, which would otherwise escape into space.
An increase in the concentration of various greenhouse gases, especially CO2, intensifies the natural greenhouse effect and leads to global warming. This in turn is associated with numerous negative environmental consequences.
According to the International Energy Agency, around a third of all CO2 emissions worldwide are caused by industry.
CO2 EQUIVALENT
In addition to CO2, other greenhouse gases, such as methane or nitrous oxide, also have climate-relevant effects. If an energy-consuming process is to be completely climate-neutral, the release of other greenhouse gases must also be included in the balancing and offsetting. Depending on the respective climate-relevant effect, the amount of other greenhouse gases can be converted into the respective amount of CO2 using so-called CO2 equivalents.
How we can support you
Our energy consultants analyze how you can achieve your climate protection goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.
To this end, we create a well-founded concept for you, which we coordinate with you during the development phase. Our concept for realising a CO2-neutral production facility is structured in several stages to ensure the most efficient use of resources.
We will provide you with a concrete CO2 roadmap for the realization of this concept. Of course, we will also accompany you along the way.
This is how we proceed
Energy consumption should be reduced as much as possible through efficiency measures. The aim is to avoid unnecessary consumption, increase energy efficiency (generation, consumption, distribution) and minimise residual consumption (load management, batteries, etc.).
Here, a concept is created that includes the use of renewable energies and the utilisation of waste heat. It is possible both to install the systems on your own premises and to participate in generation plants regardless of location. The use of combined heat and power generation with renewable fuels is a highly efficient way of reducing CO2 emissions.
Residual energy requirements that are not CO2-neutral are covered by green products or CO2 emissions are offset by measures such as the purchase of certificates, etc. From the simple purchase of green electricity to long-term climate protection projects in developing countries, there are numerous ways to sustainably improve your company's carbon footprint.
Let us help you with your climate goals
We would be happy to create an individual climate concept for you. With our methodology, you can achieve your climate goals faster and more efficiently.
Call me without obligation or write me an e-mail.
Kathrin Merkert