Sustainability is one of the top priorities of many businesses. It has been for us in Atlas Copco for many years.
Increasing efficiency, lowering emissions, and reducing your environmental footprint are the driving forces behind our unrelenting investment in innovation. It is what allows us to continue to set new standards in compressed air and gas generation performance and sustainability.
We are fully committed to being part of the solution for a better tomorrow and therefore we have set two science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Our first science-based target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our direct operations and from the energy we purchase, to keep the global temperature increase to maximum 1.5 °C (2.7 °F). We will achieve this by switching to low-carbon energy in our own operations.
Our second science-based target is to reduce emissions generated in up- and downstream activities, outside of our own operations, to keep the global temperature increase well below 2 °C (3.6 °F). We will focus on increasing our products’ energy efficiency, and on making them increasingly powered by electricity. But the biggest reduction would come from our products being powered in a low-carbon way when they are in use.
How sustainable is air compression?
Compressing air has one major drawback: It takes a lot of energy. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10% of the world’s energy is used for compressing air. That not only illustrates how vital compressed air is but also how important sustainability and efficiency are in this area.
Fortunately, some compressors have come a long way. While the fixed-speed models of the past used tremendous amounts of energy, modern compressors with variable-speed drives (VSD) can cut that consumption in half (or even more).
Every product we release is at least 10-15% improved in some way more than the previous one – our product evolution has been based on that. Compressed air production consumes a lot of energy, which impacts a company’s bottom line and the environment. Atlas Copco uses a 10-step guide to help companies lower their energy consumption and carbon footprint, which will translate into direct savings.
When approximately 80% of your compressed air system’s cost is your electricity bill, these savings cannot be dismissed. Over the life of your compressor, by selecting the right initial compressor system, your business could save you 5 – 10 times the cost of your initial asset in power costs and reduce your effective carbon impact substantially.
Beyond the physical reduction of electricity usage – which drives our focus on VSD technology and efficiency R&D – we must also consider the source of energy we use.
The emerging green hydrogen economy
Being a global leader in sustainability means exploring several different clean energy solutions. One technology we are investing in is hydrogen.
There are particularly high hopes for “green” hydrogen. It is produced through electrolysis where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen with the help of renewable electricity, and it generates no carbon dioxide emissions.
A big advantage of hydrogen is that once produced, it can be stored in pipelines and pressurised vessels for long periods without diminishing over time. And as the transport sector shifts from fossil fuels to more sustainable alternatives, hydrogen can also be a key fuel source.
There are several potential uses of hydrogen–energy storage, fuel for vehicles, such as buses and trains, and for powering ships and planes. It can also be used as a feedstock for the production of chemicals, such as ammonia and methanol, which are used in a variety of industrial processes.
Hydrogen is so light that it needs to be compressed a lot to become dense enough to get some kilograms of energy on board. We have a very long history of compressing gases and air up to high pressure, and not many companies in the world can offer this capability.
Our superior knowledge in compression technologies allows us to provide innovative solutions that help reduce the carbon footprint of various industries. By enabling the production and use of green hydrogen, we are contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy economy.
We believe that by working together and using our expertise, we can create a more sustainable future for all.