Energy efficiency and sustainability are becoming essential for companies and investors, as well as potential employees, with ESG scores being watched more closely by everyone, and sustainability brings profit through cost reduction and energy efficiency, said Valentin Vasile, Marketing Manager Schneider Electric, at the Energy Strategy Summit 2022, an event organized by Energynomics.
“Everyone says: ‘We need it!’, and everyone says: ‘We have funding!’ We position ourselves as a solution provider offering exactly the energy efficiency solutions. We were talking earlier about fossil fuels – there’s an IEA study that says 1% of electricity saved equals 2.6% of fossil fuel imports in the Union. That’s what we’re doing and we hope to help more and more companies meet their energy efficiency targets. In buildings, for example, a BMS can deliver 14% energy efficiency. That means, from our calculations, that in about 5 years, the investment in such a system pays for itself – and that goes for old buildings, not just new ones,” he said.
“In industry, the first problem would be electrification. There are a lot of fossil fuels that can be avoided by electrification and you can get 70% efficiency, with connected appliances, software, and localization in close proximity within the plant using the energy. Also, the software part can be integrated into multiple Schneider structures. We also have a solution for the district heating component – Termis – already implemented in 500 cities around the world. It can provide predictability, analysis, and simulate different scenarios in different types of situations for operators. Now we have everything connected. There’s so much data, so many variables, so many things that can happen – from risk to processing – that the operator can’t cope anymore – and it’s very helpful to have routines set up. The software that collects the data and proposes actions is one that helps tremendously,” he added.
At the same time, the sustainable approach goes hand in hand with energy efficiency. “I’ve been in Schneider for about 12 years, and Schneider is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Romania this year, so I’m halfway through its journey in Romania. When I came to Schneider there was quite a lot of talk about sustainability, it seemed like something good to have, for the future – well, now we have to talk about it in the short term. Sustainability brings profit – through cost reduction and energy efficiency. It also brings innovation, because we need to change things and it seems to be the most attractive component for investors – all investors look at the ESG score. Last but not least it also attracts employees,” he concluded.
Energy Strategy Summit 2022 was organized by Energynomics with the support of its partners: ABB, BCR, CE Oltenia, Chimcomplex, Eaton, Electrica Furnizare, Electroalfa, EnergoBit, Enevo Group, European Energy, Eximbank, EY, Franklin Templeton, Horváth, ING, Hidroelectrica, Marsh, MET Energy România, Nuclearelectrica, BCR Pensii, Photomate, Powertis, Renomia Gallagher, Schneider Electric, Transelectrica, Volt, wpd.
