ABB’s production facility in Zibo, Shandong province, China is delivering measurable energy and emissions reductions through the implementation of advanced digital energy management and electrification solutions. Driven by a site-wide sustainability roadmap focused on energy efficiency, electrification, renewable electricity and digital energy management, the site has cut energy consumption by 71 MWh and avoided over 63 tons of CO2 emissions annually, the equivalent to the electricity needed to power several hundred average homes for a month.
The facility has implemented a range of efficiency upgrades across core operations. LED lighting has been installed, air conditioning systems have been optimised based on real-time occupancy data, and upgrades to air compressor controls have reduced unnecessary energy use. Together, these initiatives are improving operational efficiency while lowering both emissions and costs, demonstrating how digitalisation and smart energy management can accelerate low-carbon manufacturing.
The Zibo site, which manufactures wiring accessories for the company’s smart buildings portfolio, has installed an ABB energy management system that monitors, analyses and optimises energy performance across the site. This platform provides real-time visibility into energy consumption, enabling continuous improvement and data-driven decision making.
Building on these efficiency gains, the manufacturing facility operates entirely on renewable electricity, with approximately 15% of the site’s electricity demand now covered through renewable electricity generated by rooftop photovoltaic panels installed within the industrial park, complemented by certified green electricity procurement. The site is certified to ISO 50001 for energy management and has been recognised by local authorities as a Zibo City-level Green Factory, highlighting its role as a regional benchmark for sustainable industrial operations.
“The progress at Zibo shows how Mission to Zero is translated into measurable results,” said Mike Mustapha, president of ABB electrification’s smart buildings division. “By combining digital energy management, efficiency improvements and renewable electricity, the team has delivered tangible reductions in energy use and emissions, while strengthening the competitiveness of the site. This is exactly the kind of progress we want to scale across our global operations.”
Beyond energy and emissions, Zibo has established a clear path toward circular operations. The site has implemented waste reduction and recycling initiatives and is targeting Zero Waste to Landfill certification under UL2799 by the end of 2026, reinforcing its commitment to responsible resource use and sustainable manufacturing. The facility joins a growing global network of ABB Mission to Zero sites spanning Europe, the Americas and Asia, all advancing toward low-carbon, energy-efficient and digitally enabled operations.
AI data centres, nature and innovation Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented demand for data centre capacity, with liquid cooling now central to managing the heat generated by high-density GPU clusters. Schneider Electric examines how next-generation data centres can balance performance with environmental responsibility.
Read more...Siemens powers next-generation reusable spacecraft development Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
A European aerospace startup focused on reusable space systems, has adopted Siemens Xcelerator software to connect engineering disciplines, reduce rework and accelerate spacecraft development, cutting the path from concept to flight hardware to nine months for its orbital demonstration capsule.
Read more...How to navigate the high-stakes economics of AI infrastructure
IT in Manufacturing
Nearly 60% of data centre operators are expected to adopt liquid cooling within five years as AI workloads drive demand for higher rack densities. Understanding the full financial picture of liquid cooling, from capital investment to long-term operational savings, is now essential.
Read more...Protecting the digital mine RJ Connect
IT in Manufacturing
As mining becomes increasingly connected and automated, cyber threats are emerging alongside the benefits of digitalisation. RJ Connect and provides rugged networking, edge computing and cybersecurity technologies from MOXA to help protect critical mining operations from evolving attacks.
Read more...Predictive maintenance is the critical enabler for AI data centre liquid cooling systems
IT in Manufacturing
As liquid cooling becomes essential for AI data centres, predictive and condition-based maintenance are emerging as critical enablers of thermal stability. Schneider Electric argues that the infrastructure is already generating the data needed and the question is whether operators are equipped to use it.
Read more...Siemens software scales with Simple Energy EV development Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
: Simple Energy, an Indian electric two-wheeler manufacturer, has expanded its use of Siemens Xcelerator software to manage complex vehicle variants and enterprise-level bills of materials, accelerating product development as its EV portfolio scales.
Read more...ESG as a growth lever RS South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Leading organisations are treating ESG not as a compliance obligation but as a practical tool for operational efficiency, supply chain resilience and business performance, with data and collaboration central to unlocking its value.
Read more...Preparing Africa’s data centres for the demands of autonomous AI Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Africa’s data centre infrastructure must evolve significantly to support agentic AI workloads, with GPU-intensive computing, advanced cooling and reliable power demanding a fundamentally different approach to facility design and investment.
Read more...Virtualising the control room to reshape building management systems Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric explains how virtualising building management systems frees facilities teams from ageing hardware, delivers stronger cybersecurity and enables portfolio-wide control from a single interface.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version