TIP-4-BEST: Thermal insulation performance audit program to boost energy efficiency and reduce heat losses in plants
To reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in its plants, the Saint-Gobain Group acts upstream by training its engineers in the EiiF's TIPCHECK energy assessment program so that they can implement relevant and appropriate sustainable insulation solutions in the plants.
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
Emissions absorption
Financing low-carbon producers or disinvestment from carbon assets
Reduction of other greenhouse gases emission
Project objectives
- Assess the performance of insulation installed in thermal equipments such as ovens, storage tanks and insulated pipes at all Saint-Gobain sites
- Undertake work to improve the energy performance of equipments where room for improvement has been identified
This project is in line with the advocacy of EiiF (European Industrial Insulation Foundation) for the promotion of sustainable insulation systems (using mineral wool produced by Saint-Gobain/Isover) in order to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
Indeed, EiiF has created an energy assessment program called “TIPCHECK”, which trains and certifies engineers. These engineers are then able to analyse the energy losses of industries and to advise on the most relevant and appropriate sustainable insulation solutions.
On-site audits allow work to be undertaken to repair damaged or poorly insulated areas, to insulate areas that are not insulated, or to propose better insulation solutions
Emission scope(s)
on which the project has a significant impact
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 – Improving the insulation of equipments at Saint-Gobain sites
- Quantification : example for a glass furnace: -785 teqCO2/year
The reduced emissions strongly depend on the type and size of the installation, its condition before the project and the used energy types. In the example of the glass furnace above, the gain in natural gas is 3,888MWh/year, i.e. a reduction of 785 teqCO2/year considering an emission factor of 0.202 tCO2eq/MWh of natural gas (IPCC 2006 guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories).
Key points
Invested amount
50k €
Starting date of the project
2013
Project localisation
Worldwild
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
By improving the energy efficiency of its factories, Saint-Gobain’s program contributes to more sustainable production and thus to SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
This project is replicable in any industrial environment using thermal energy in its processes.
The involvement of top management and the availability of CAPEX are two factors that condition the success of the project.
The main organisation supporting this project is the European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF), a European non-profit foundation created to promote and establish the use of industrial insulation as a widely understood and accepted means of achieving sustainability.
Contact the company carrying the project :
dehs@saint-gobain.com
