Project overview
Participating company | 3M Deutschland GmbH
|
Project location | The nine largest 3M locations in Germany |
Industry | Multi-technology company |
Technologies used | Optimisation of production plants, cooling supply, infrastructure, hot, warm and cold water networks, air conditioning and compressed air systems, photovoltaics LED lighting, building management systems, e-vehicles, e-charging columns, purchase of green electricity, life cycle assessments, carbon footprint analyses, circular economy, energy contracting, leasing |
Projected energy efficiency | Approximately 21 GWh/yr (4.1 GWh/yr achieved so far) |
Projected CO2 savings | 97,000 t CO2/yr (75%) for the period 2019–2030 Achieved so far: 1,200 t CO2/yr |
Planned investment | Not specified |
Planned payback period | 3.5–4 years |
Funding programmes | None |
Projects for the implementation of climate protection measures are being launched in sequence at 3M’s nine largest sites in Germany and are being replicated at other sites to the greatest extent possible. The initiative is made up of projects that have already been implemented as well as fully planned projects that have yet to be implemented.
The following measures were implemented to increase energy efficiency: optimisation of the cooling supply and investigation into the infrastructure with regard to total energy consumption. All nine sites have already seen success in terms of optimising the cooling supply, the hot, warm and cold water networks, the air conditioning systems as well as the compressed air systems and infrastructure. The same goes for the installation of new building management systems and the replacement of LED lighting systems.
The optimisation process at the technical production facilities focuses on the following: reducing start-up processes and applying preventive maintenance measures and the LEAN/Six Sigma methodology to avoid unplanned downtimes at production facilities.
In addition, e-vehicles are being introduced to the 3M fleet, and charging columns are being provided for customers. Only green electricity is fed into the charging columns. Some locations have already begun using photovoltaic systems to generate electricity from renewable energy sources on their own. This method is being expanded to other locations as well. The cross-site purchase of green electricity is currently being implemented. As of this year, 3M Deutschland GmbH already obtains 75 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources. The global 3M Group as a whole is looking to obtain 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable energies by 2025 and 100 per cent by 2050. 3M is implementing several measures within the framework of energy contracting and leasing. 3M also carries out product-related life cycle assessments and carbon footprint analyses and supports its customers in determining the scope of their emissions.
Transferability
The various measures for increasing energy efficiency and generating on-site energy, supplemented by the purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources, can be transferred (at least in part) to many other companies in various different sectors.
Energy Efficiency Award 2021
Pictures: 3M