Unexpected ways factories are saving energy

GREEN-MINDED companies are using traditional energy-generation methods such as solar power and wind turbines t r good effect. However, some are turnin to apparently quirkier solutions that focus on conservation of energy. Government incentives to achieve 4 carbon targets set out in the Paris Agreement of 2015, and dramatic price falls in renewable generating technologies, have combined to encourage businesses to cut their energy. consumption and, in the process, reap savings on their bills and emissions. Likewise, government climate policies have encouraged the greening of both manufacturing and site operations. One innovative green energy solution now being appropriated by businesses is to employ anaerobic digester (AD) plants to turn their organic process and industrial waste into electricity and heat. An AD is an airtight tank in which bacteria break down biodegradable materials into usable products, primarily biogas - a combustible mix of methane and carbon dioxide. Technology in the form of groundi' and air-source heat pumps, which rely on natural heat, is gradually displacing fossil fuels for heating or cooling homes and buildings in South Africa, Australia''. and the UK. Another novel sustainable approach seen in southern hemisphere countries is the use of seawater to cool buildings, while cities in the northern hemisphere are taking water from lakes and rivers for the same purpose. Insulation has benefitted from use of new materials and the comeback of natural fibres such as wool and hemp. Management of energy consumption has advanced with the introduction of Internet of Things technology and is being augmented with` cloud-based systems. These innovative measures are being adopted in factories, offices, industrial parks and universities, for example, offering the benefits of reduced operating costs, predictability of energy bills and enhanced green credentials. Organic waste from manufacturing processes is being transformed into a source of electricity and heat. Essentially, the organic waste is fed into an AD plant in which the `digestion process' produces biogas, which is then burned to release heat. This heat turns water into steam, which turns the blade of a turbine generator to produce electricity. In the UK, the confectionery arm of the food giant Nestle and the Scottish whisky industry are two prime users of anaerobic digesters, which they use to turn their organic waste into biogas, the first step to producing electricity. There is increasing strong interest from food and drink manufacturers in developing on-site AD plants to `digest' their processing residues.