- ABB and IfM Engage, the knowledge transfer arm of the Institute for Manufacturing, create energy management blueprints for the future
- A strategic roadmap outlines a plan to tackle customer challenges of rising energy costs and environmental targets
- Helping to cut costs, reduce emissions and stabilize the grid
Rising energy costs, reducing emissions and meeting environmental targets all need a change in energy management. IfM Engage, part of the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge and global technology company ABB have teamed up to develop a blueprint for better ways of working that look at technology challenges processes and people to plan purposeful change.
The World Bank warned in 2021 that energy prices were expected to average more than 80 per cent higher compared to 2020 and remain at high levels in 20221. The current geopolitical climate has subsequently caused unprecedented changes in energy security with the World Bank estimating energy prices will rise more than 50% in 20222. This has caused a fundamental shift in the speed at which governments and businesses wish to move away from reliance on fossil fuels and reduce fuel consumption.
In response to the energy crisis, ABB Electrification is collaborating with experts from IfM Engage3 to develop a roadmap that takes a strategic approach to improving energy management, breaking down the complex changes involved into manageable steps and building a plan for purposeful change. Reviewing processes, resources and capabilities and building on tools such as road-mapping supports the most effective change.
“Sometimes organizations make the mistake of looking at what technologies can help them to ‘go digital’, without considering the broader context including where value can be created and what pain points could benefit most from digitalization. Do not build on the status quo but think about your ideal future scenario - then develop a roadmap for your digital transformation,” said Dr Clemens Chaskel, Industrial Associate, IfM Engage. It's not the technology that makes your digital transformation successful, but it’s how it is applied during road-mapping, the vital component is establishing connections between those strategic elements to ensure that every item on the roadmap has a purpose.”
“IfM Engage and ABB developed a roadmap that will improve our technology strategy, R&D projects, customer deliverables and anticipate future trends, which has the potential to shape the energy management systems of the future. The next step is to turn this blueprint into real world actions,” said Giampiero Frisio, ABB Smart Power Division President.
“By working with experts from the University of Cambridge, we secured our long-term trajectory for the evolution of the ABB Ability Energy Manager. We know we have a coherent and original strategy to support customers in cutting operational costs, reducing emissions and meeting environmental targets,” added Giuseppe Casagrande, ABB Smart Power Division Digital Leader.
Andi Jones, Industrial Associate, IfM Engage, said: “It was exciting to work with ABB on a project that could have such a significant impact. We were able to use collective knowledge from across ABB to create a coherent technology strategy that will address some of the significant energy management challenges we all face in the future.”
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
ABB’s Electrification Business Area is a global leader in electrical products and solutions, operating in more than 100 countries, with over 200 manufacturing sites. Our 50,000+ employees are dedicated to transforming how people live, connect and work by delivering safe, smart and sustainable electrification solutions. We are shaping the future trends of electrification, differentiating through technological and digital innovation while delivering an outstanding experience through operational excellence for our customers across utilities, industry, buildings, infrastructure and mobility. For more information visit https://go.abb/electrification
IfM Engage is a knowledge transfer company within the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge, with a mission to transfer and integrate world-leading knowledge and solutions to make a lasting difference to the future of manufacturing and the wider ecosystem. Embedded in the IfM, IfM Engage uses new insights, ideas and approaches emerging from world-leading research across management, technology and policy. Its services are delivered by industrial experts who tailor and combine insights and tools – such as roadmapping - to bring meaningful change across businesses, governments and academic institutions around the world.
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3 IfM Engage supports organisations through strategy technology and innovation management, digital transformation, and industrial sustainability projects.