Introduction
COP 28’s conclusion was unequivocal. The 1.5-degree Celsius limit set in the Paris Agreement to curb global warming will quickly become a pipe dream if industries don't succeed in eliminating their emissions in all sectors within five to ten years.
As industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it must focus on decarbonisation, i.e. reducing carbon emissions directly at source. Decarbonisation (not to be confused with carbon neutrality, which is about offsetting the emissions produced through measures that offset or remove carbon from the atmosphere) is about actively reducing and eliminating carbon emissions at source. While it is first and foremost an environmental imperative, it is also a route to business innovation, cost reduction and brand reputation.
Drawing on Equans' decade-long experience in energy performance, this guide presents a 7-step approach to decarbonising your business in a pragmatic and profitable way.
Step 1: Assess Your Carbon Footprint
The Importance of Acknowledging the Environmental Impact of Your Business
Understanding your company's carbon footprint is a pivotal first step towards decarbonisation. This foundational knowledge helps shape an effective strategy to curb emissions. An organisational carbon footprint acts as a cornerstone for any sustainability strategy. It offers insights into emissions hotspots across your value chain and provides a preliminary assessment of climate risks and opportunities. As ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) considerations become increasingly valued by investors, companies worldwide will be required to measure and report their carbon footprint to their stakeholders.
How to Assess Your Carbon Footprint?
To assess your carbon footprint, you need to calculate the total greenhouse gases that your company produces directly and indirectly. This process involves various carbon accounting methods that categorise emissions into three “scopes”:
· Scope 1 includes direct emissions from owned or controlled sources;
· Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from the purchase of electricity, steam, heating or cooling;
· Scope 3 includes indirect emissions associated with activities throughout a company’s value chain.
Equans Helps Your Company with Industry-Informed Decarbonisation Solutions
Equans is determined to reduce its carbon emissions by 30-40% by 2030 and is leading the way in implementing practical decarbonisation measures. From optimising production processes and urban plans to installing efficient energy systems, Equans is improving its own as well as its clients’ industrial and commercial infrastructures.
Step 2: Set Achievable Goals and Realistic Targets to Decarbonise Your Business
Set SMART Goals
Equans can help your business accurately assess your carbon footprint and pave the way for an accessible roadmap to decarbonisation. This pathway should be guided by SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) targets to ensure targeted and effective decarbonisation efforts.
Define Clear Decarbonisation Targets
Setting clear, science-based decarbonisation targets is an essential part of any effective strategy. Without them, your company risks ineffective implementation. The complexity of these targets requires a deep understanding of the necessary sequence of actions and options. Equans provides expert advice in this area, helping you identify and use different decarbonisation pathways and reduction levers to achieve net zero.
A structured approach to decarbonisation starts with realistic targets such as reducing energy consumption through energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and retrofitting industrial equipment (Scope 1). It also implies moves on to cleaner energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, which have a much lower carbon footprint (Scope 2) and then of course stakeholder engagement across the value chain (Scope 3).
Adopting a Decarbonisation Strategy Aligned with Climate Challenges
Convinced that we are the sum of all our parts, Equans leverages an international network of innovative partners in the energy sector who combine their strengths to bring everyone to a higher level. Our comprehensive strategy - implemented by regionally anchored operational teams - takes into account your business model, your industry and your specific challenges and aligns them with broader climate goals.
Step 3: Develop a Tailored Decarbonisation Plan for Your Company
Developing a Customised Decarbonisation Strategy
A generic approach to decarbonisation is ineffective. Equans’ strategies are customised and focus on high-emitting sectors, supporting the growth of renewable energy and facilitating its clients' transition while maintaining the highest ethical standards. These plans include various elements such as the type of business, available resources, industry specifics, environmental footprint, regulatory requirements and impact on people.
Audits and Sustainability Consulting
Expert audits and consultations are critical in identifying the most effective measures. Equans provides detailed analysis of energy consumption and usage, offering a robust basis for decision-making. This analysis will help your business identify optimisation potentials and efficient actions to meet your objectives.
Step 4: Improve Energy Efficiency in your Day-to-Day Business Life
Upgrading Business Technologies
Implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices is key to reducing consumption and costs. Equans is leading the development of smart buildings, integrating AI and IoT to enhance energy efficiency, air quality, and security. We offer comprehensive solutions covering all aspects of a building's lifecycle and urban surroundings, emphasising immediate cost savings and long-term sustainability.
Equans’ Energy and Technology Solutions
Equans is also heavily investing in hydrogen technologies, anticipating the decisive role it is poised to play in the global energy supply. As such, we aim to help our clients transition to electric machinery and offer energy-efficient bungalows with smart energy management systems. Integrating AI into our decarbonisation strategy, we leverage predictive models and machine learning to optimise energy use and reduce emissions, contributing significantly to reducing industrial carbon footprints.
Step 5: Implement Renewable Energy Solutions - Equans Case Studies
As an end-to-end partner, Equans supports its clients in their reduced, green and flexible consumption strategies.
Reduced consumption through energy conservation and performance, control of installations, building monitoring systems, LED lighting, and innovative cooling techniques.
For BNP Paribas Fortis headquarters in Brussels, Equans handled cooling and electrical installations, and installed a photovoltaic park on the roof.
Green consumption through photovoltaic installations, geothermal energy, heat pumps, biomass, electric vehicle recharging, and rail electrification.
With a team of 1500 solar experts Equans Solar & Storage provides tailor-made Solar PV solutions for industrial and tertiary buildings, and has installed 5.5GW of solar energy and 550MWh of BESS capacity worldwide.
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Equans’ transformation of DSM Nutritional Products’ site in Sisseln, transitioning to a biomass-powered Combined Heat and Power plant, achieved an annual CO2 reduction of 50,000 tonnes.
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Equans’ SOCRAT system for real-time rail catenary monitoring exemplifies our commitment to enhancing infrastructure with smart technologies.
Flexible consumption through energy reduction, process support, resources and digital tools automatism, control and management of buildings and plants, and managed electricity grids (smart grids, SCADA, etc.).
In Flevoland in the Netherlands, Equans brings together central and decentralised energy producers and supports the integration of new renewable energy installations, using sophisticated networks to balance supply, demand, and storage.
Step 6: Involve Employees in Your Decarbonisation Strategy
Engaging Employees in Sustainable Practices
Don’t underestimate just how dramatically your people can accelerate your decarbonisation. Recognising this, Equans runs educational programs through its Academy to develop talent, raise awareness and encourage participation in decarbonisation efforts. Our IMPACT manifesto and employer brand campaigns provides a blueprint for companies to similarly engage their teams and get them involved in corporate decarbonisation and sustainability efforts.
Step 7: Keep the Decarbonisation Going with Transparent Monitoring
Tracking the Decarbonising Process
Effective monitoring tools like Equans’ Performance Energy Manager (PEM) are vital in tracking progress, adjusting strategies, and reporting achievements. The PEM system includes energy meters, tracking devices, and IoT for comprehensive energy profiling. The methodology encompasses both manual and automated data collection, providing a granulated view of energy usage and identifying opportunities for improvement.
The Importance of Transparency in Sustainable Efforts
Transparency is the bedrock upon which any relationship is built. Equans' commitment to adhering to local laws, regulations, and ethical principles underscores the importance of integrating ethics into business practices. Consequently, it enhances our relationships with partners, stakeholders, and customers.
Conclusion: A Sustainable Future for Your Business
A strategic and ethical approach to decarbonisation offers substantial benefits to your business. It is a consequential process that can be broken down into achievable, concrete steps from understanding your carbon footprint to engaging in efficiency improvements and renewable energy. Partnering with Equans will give you access to expertise and solutions that will transform a daunting, pressing venture into a manageable and successful decarbonisation trajectory. As a result, decarbonisation may become for your business not just an environmental obligation and regulatory constraint, but an opportunity for growth and innovation.