Green Days: eco-habit initiative to save energy

Safran Electronics & Defenseimplemented on its Montluçon site a Green Days initiative that was broken down into several actions that aimed to save energy and improve energy efficiency, thereby reducing the site's carbon footprint.

Main project's drivers for reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Energy and resource efficiency

Energy Decarbonisation

Energy efficiency improvements

Improving efficiency in non-energy resources

Emission removal

Financing low-carbon issuers or disinvestment from carbon assets

Reduction of other greenhouse gases emission

Project objectives

Aim of the Green Days initiative: to save energy and reduce the GHG emissions of the Montluçon site thanks to investments made on the site and the roll-out of best practice (eco habits)

This initiative responds to the following sub-goals:

To address the obsolescence, age or regulatory noncompliance of certain infrastructure-related equipment (refrigeration units, boilers, lighting) through energy-saving actions. To integrate safety issues;
To involve all employees in the initiative;
To work on the infrastructure as well as the processes

Detailed project description

The Green Days initiative on the Montluçon site was broken down into various actions which were taken:

Implementation of an energy-saving initiative based on the ISO 50001 method (roll-out of an “energy” policy and energy-performance indicators);
Implementation of a dedicated organizational structure with an energy manager and coordinators responsible for leading the initiative in the various workshops;
Use of continuous-improvement tools like the Green Belt workshops (Lean Transformation): optimization of electricity use on weekends, energy efficiency of the clean rooms, efficiency of the means of production, etc.
Energy-saving actions on infrastructure: insulation, relamping, improvement of settings and management of the installations;
Actions on production: switching equipment off at the end of a shift, optimization of the ancillary equipment of the means of production (cooler, pump, etc.), definition of the selection criteria of the new means of production engineering;
Grouping of heat, cold, compressed air and vacuum production processes in an adapted building: the Energy Building. These means of production were old, disproportionate and noncompliant in a few areas. This five-year project (2016 to 2020) led to a 40% reduction in natural gas use while also securing industrial activity through the introduction of the best methods available (heat recovery, speed variation, etc.) and a search for financial optimization (search for a rapid ROI).

Emission scope(s)

on which the project has a significant impact

Emission scopes
Description and quantification of associated GHG emissions
Clarification on the calculation

Scope 1

Direct emissions generated by the company's activity.

Scope 2

Indirect emissions associated with the company's electricity and heat consumption.

Scope 3

Emissions induced (upstream or downstream) by the company's activities, products and/or services in its value chain.

Emission Removal

Carbon sinks creation, (BECCS, CCU/S, …)

Avoided Emissions

Emissions avoided by the activities, products and/or services in charge of the project, or by the financing of emission reduction projects.

Scope 1 – Evolution of the natural gas bill correlated with the evolution of climate severity (EF: 0.169 kgCO₂ / kWh)

Quantification : Cumulative saving between 2012 and 2019: 3,376 tons of CO₂

Scope 2 – Evolution of the electricity bill correlated with the evolution of activity (EF: 0.04 kgCO₂ / kWh)

Quantification: Cumulative saving between 2012 and 2019: 907 tons of CO₂

Scope 3 – Evolution of the electricity bill correlated with the evolution of activity and evolution of the natural gas bill correlated with the evolution of climate severity (EF elec: 0.018 kgCO₂ / kWh – EF gas: 0.0357 kgCO₂ / kWh)

Quantification: Cumulative saving between 2012 and 2019: 1,120 tons of CO₂

50% improvement in the site’s energy performance between 2012 and 2019.
Cumulative gain of 2.6 million euros

Key points

Invested amount

3.8 M€

Starting date of the project

2012

Project localisation

Montluçon, Allier

Project maturity level

Prototype laboratory test (TRL 7)

Real life testing (TRL 7-8)

Pre-commercial prototype (TRL 9)

Small-scale implementation

Medium to large scale implementation

Economic profitability of the project (ROI)

Short term (0-3 years)

Middle term (4-10 years)

Long term (> 10 years)

Illustrations of the project

Other environmental and social benefits of the project

This Green Days initiative offers several benefits to the project owner:

Manage the site’s energy bill, limit the impact of energy-cost increases,
Ensure continuity of service and comfort while improving energy efficiency and safety
Integrate maintenance and optimization constraints of equipment into projects

Capacity and conditions of the project reproducibility

The methods of all of these projects can be reproduced: size to exact needs, implement the best methods available, use the energy sources available. These projects also desensitize a site to market prices.

Several factors play a role in the initiative’s success:

Working closely with operational staff to reduce energy use of the processes and create complementary improvement loops on the infrastructure
Implementation of energy coordinators in the various sectors to manage the action plans
Identifying sources of funding: Ademe’s request for proposals, various grants (energy-saving certificates (CEE), ADEME)

Engaged partnerships

As all of these forms of technology are very mature, these projects are carried out as part of works launched through calls for tenders. The projects are carried out with local small and medium enterprises and/or large national groups.

Awareness-raising actions are performed in-house with the support of Ademe through local “Energy info” appointments.

Download the complete project sheet

Contact the company carrying the project :

amandine.maugarnis@safrangroup.com

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