Aiming for reduced consumption
The reduction of industrial greenhouse gas emissions depends on reducing energy consumption, and this through the implementation of energy efficiency measures. R&D has developed audit and optimisation tools to improve consumption and performance, and assists manufacturers in setting up circular economy projects within industrial regions.
“Decarbonised plant 4.0” project: diagnosis and optimisation of overall energy performance
EDF supports its industrial customers by offering them a diagnosis of their industrial performance using several tools developed by EDF R&D. Interview with Aurélie Kaemmerlen, “Decarbonised plant 4.0” project manager.
“In an industrial activity, the reduction of CO2 emissions forms part of a whole. It cannot be considered independently of an improvement in efficiency” explains Aurélie Kaemmerlen, “Decarbonised plant 4.0” project manager at EDF R&D. “We support many customers in this process.” This energy and environmental optimisation can be implemented at several levels, with the support of EDF.
Analysing your performance
Since 2019, EDF has been offering its customers support for 4.0 industrial performance through its "Sprint factory" drawing on the image of sprinters, who require the most favourable environment possible to give of their best. “We provide an outside, expert view of all data related to an industrial activity. This diagnosis, completely secure in terms of data collection, allows for a very detailed analysis of potential performance gains and how they can be coupled with a move towards less energy-intensive solutions with lower carbon emissions,” says Aurélie Kaemmerlen. This offer is now incorporated into the Group’s customer support for carbon neutrality.
The Motorboard offer, marketed since 2021, allows the diagnosis of electric motors, whether they are linked to the industrial activity itself or in tertiary installations. This one-off audit is carried out using watt meters designed in our laboratories and the measurements recorded are analysed by software based on R&D’s expertise to automatically determine areas where optimisation is possible. At the end of the audit, the manufacturer is better informed regarding the use and cost of its motors and the eco-efficient solutions adapted to optimise them. “We are currently developing additional options for time tracking and predictive maintenance,” says Aurélie Kaemmerlen.
Improving automatic control in industry
Energy efficiency and industrial performance can also be improved through better automatic control of industrial equipment. Failure to optimise or correctly configure instrumentation and control can lead to significant overconsumption. EDF R&D has therefore developed the EAC (Easy Advanced Control) solution giving access to high-performance instrumentation and control while remaining easy to use thanks to patented control law. “We are completing the first customer deployments and will be marketing this service in the coming months, to make advanced controls accessible to maintenance technicians and operators without any specific training,” says Aurélie Kaemmerlen.
Other innovations in the pipeline
R&D is currently working on a highly innovative air distribution system (hot/cold reversible) that will improve conditions at the workstation for factory employees while reducing energy consumption. Manufacturers have already expressed interest in this concept.
