ABB has unveiled its first carbon dioxide-neutral production site at Ludenscheid, Germany.
The Swiss company is commissioning a solar farm at the plant, owned by subsidiary Busch-Jaeger, that will generate enough power to cover on sunny days 100% of the factories’ power requirements.
Measuring 3500 square metres and installed over the car parks on the company premises, the solar system will deliver about 1100 megawatt-hours of electricity a year.
In combination with a cogeneration plant, which operates with double the energy efficiency of a coal-fired power plant, around 14% more energy can be generated than is needed at the site.
The surplus power is fed into the public grid, while in peak periods additional green energy is sourced from MVV Energie.
ABB electrification president Tarak Mehta said: “The photovoltaic system is part of an integrated solution that covers all aspects of energy production and distribution, making it possible to generate enough power to cover on sunny days 100% of its power requirements.
“With this state-of-the-art site, we demonstrate the advantages of creating a system in which all components are digitally networked and controllable.
“This intelligent ecosystem enhances energy efficiency, sustainability and resource conservation, enabling a genuine zero emission future for industry and beyond.”
The site is managed by ABB’s energy management system Optimax from the ABB Ability energy management suite.
“The digital solution provides for the constant surveillance and optimum control of energy production, consumption and storage and operates largely autonomous,” ABB said.
“This learning system calculates the optimum energy flow on the basis of predictive data and compensates for deviations in real time,” it added.
There is also a 200kW battery storage system and charging points for staff and visitors to charge their electric vehicles for free.
ABB added that the site will save about 630 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.