ABB has announced that Microsoft has joined its Energy Efficiency Movement. Launched in March 2021 by ABB, the #energyefficiencymovement is a multi-stakeholder initiative to raise awareness and spur action to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions to combat climate change.
Companies are invited to join the movement - #energyefficiencymovement and make a public pledge, as a way of inspiring others to take action. Microsoft represents one of the largest corporate partners to join the initiative to date.
Energy efficiency taking on greater urgency
A recent survey commissioned by ABB found that energy efficiency is clearly top of mind for executives
Energy efficiency is taking on greater urgency throughout industry, as companies look for opportunities to decarbonize amid soaring energy costs and pressure from customers, employees and governments to make strides on sustainability.
A recent survey commissioned by ABB found that energy efficiency is clearly top of mind for executives around the world. It revealed that 89 percent of industrial leaders surveyed will increase investment in the energy efficiency of their operations, in the coming five years, with 54 percent aiming to achieve net-zero emissions in that timeframe.
Enhancing energy efficiency Essential to fight climate change
“The greenest energy is the energy we never use,” said Tarak Mehta, the President of Motion business area at ABB, adding “With 45 percent of the world’s electricity used to power motors in buildings and industry, improving energy efficiency is an essential strategy to fight climate change.”
Tarak Mehta continues, “Digitally connected energy-efficient solutions are critical to accelerating progress and I am delighted Microsoft and ABB are making common cause, to enable greater energy efficiency in our operations and those of our customers.”
Microsoft joins the ABB Energy Efficiency Movement
“Microsoft is joining the ABB Energy Efficiency Movement, to help accelerate global progress on energy efficiency and carbon reduction,” said Elisabeth Brinton, the Corporate Vice President – Sustainability at Microsoft, adding “Microsoft is committed to become carbon negative by 2030 and 100 percent powered by renewable electricity by 2025, and these goals are well aligned to both ABB and the Movement’s aims.”
Elisabeth Brinton continues, “This will further support our existing collaboration, to help customers in sectors, like manufacturing, transportation, and cities, to make better decisions at scale and drive meaningful efficiency gains.”
ABB’s Sustainability Strategy 2030
ABB reduced GHG emissions from its operations in 2021, by some 28 percent on a year-over-year basis
For its part, ABB reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its operations in 2021, by some 28 percent on a year-over-year basis. In its comprehensive Sustainability Strategy 2030, ABB has affirmed it will reach carbon neutrality by the end of this decade.
Beyond its own operations, ABB has also committed to help its customers in reducing their annual CO2 emissions, by at least 100 megatons by 2030, the equivalent of removing 30 million combustion cars from the roads each year.
ABB partners with global companies
With partners, such as Microsoft, Deutsche Post DHL Group and Alfa Laval, the ABB Energy Efficiency Movement brings together an ecosystem of like-minded industry leaders, in order to accelerate efforts in decarbonization.
Having recently celebrated five years of successful collaboration, in the context of ABB Ability - ABB’s portfolio of digital solutions, the announcement regarding the Energy Efficiency Movement helps further cements Microsoft and ABB’s joint efforts, to push technology boundaries in empowering customers to address sustainability.
ABB Ability solutions
Using Microsoft Azure’s platform-as-a-service capability, along with AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning-based analytics, cloud computing and edge technologies, ABB Ability solutions are powering a range of industrial use cases that help organizations optimize how they make use of energy in powertrains, facilities and other physical assets.
A new ABB whitepaper highlights some of the opportunities presented by digitalization and the industrial Internet of Things in bringing about more energy-efficient operations.