Report advises in preparation for industry energy efficiency standards

The study also explores ways in which industrial automation is helping manufacturers adapt to increasingly demanding environmental standards.

“2015 will be the year of energy efficiency,” explained Darren Halford, Group Sales Manager, European Automation. “Regardless of where they are located or what industry they operate in, manufacturers have to comply with rigorous environmental demands regarding product design, energy management and reducing carbon footprint.

In 2009, the European Union revised its Ecodesign Directive, ensuring designers of energy-using products reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of these products. The directive affects manufacturing and engineering companies in a variety of ways, in every department from product design to logistics.

Its impact can be felt everywhere from lighting to the equipment used on a production line. For example, starting January 1, 2015, IE3 (Premium Efficiency) is a mandatory requirement for all motors between 7.5k and 375 kW. The only exception is the use of IE2 motors fitted with a variable speed drive (VSD).

Next year will also bring changes in the way large UK companies account for their energy usage. Organisations that employ at least 250 people or have annual turnovers in excess of €50m will have to submit the first confirmation of ESOS compliance to the Environmental Agency before December 5, 2015.

“Luckily, industrial automation can offer an impressive range of solutions for higher productivity and energy savings, without costing the earth. We think it always makes sense to look at energy efficiency through the lens of automation” continued Halford.

This is the second industry report European Automation has produced in the last few months with a number of others planned for 2015. The reports still to come will focus on collapsing automation architecture, M2M communication and information security.