Pilot Program on Energy Reduction in Engineering and Manufacturing Facilities on Global Scale Highlights Challenges and Performance Improvements

摘要

An oilfield services company has completed a pilot program on a global scale that recognizes the value of energy reduction in terms of sustainability and environmental performance. This paper describes the program that ran for a year with tangible targets for energy reduction, with a focused and structured approach. The program resulted in demonstrable reductions in energy consumption for a proportion of the facilities involved and resulted in valuable insights for future programs. The program, named Mission Emission was piloted on a global scale amongst specific locations belonging to the company’s engineering and manufacturing group. The three key deliverables for the 34 locations in 13 different countries were detailed carbon emissions data collection, an energy survey (including key plant and equipment at each facility) and implementation of identified improvements. The results of the program were evaluated by further data collection at the end of the year. The program resulted in an overall reduction in carbon footprint of 17% and significant financial savings. The program highlighted the critical importance of management support, the need for fundamental knowledge of facilities maintenance and energy management, and the challenge in selecting an appropriate metric to suit multi-country locations with wide variations in population, facilities infrastructure and business activities. 14 locations managed to achieve an energy reduction based on 2016 vs 2015 CO2e kg per man hour, and 9 of these made the target of 5% reduction. The program saw that even the simplest of changes made an impact, including focused management of high energy consuming manufacturing equipment and machinery, switch off campaigns, strict control on lighting, heating ventilation and air conditioning. The successes of the program have been communicated internally and externally as part of the company’s sustainability reporting. The initiative has provided valuable insights on how future programs may be structured, helped to positively engage employees, and has offered a best practice example for other groups within the company. With concerted focus and management support, reductions in energy consumption and associated cost savings can be made without significant financial investment.