Case Study: Programmatic Approach to Sustainability Goal Achievement

Summary

While 2040 or 2050 goals may feel futuristic, companies who want to meet those sustainability targets need to start now. EnerSys, a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications with a broad global manufacturing footprint, is one such company that is on a mission to lead its sector toward a net zero carbon future with ambitious plans to achieve Scope 1 carbon neutrality–elimination of direct fossil use–by 2040. 

EnerSys is focusing on Scope 1 emissions because the company understands that electrification is key to decarbonization, and that the batteries EnerSys makes can play an important role in decarbonizing electricity by increasing the amount of renewable energy that can be used.
 
To support this commitment, EnerSys has earmarked $20 million for sustainability projects to be implemented from 2023-2028. To achieve this goal, the company turned to Trane to help develop a comprehensive program to help reduce emissions and increase electrification across their facilities. Trane has been an ongoing trusted HVAC and energy solutions provider with EnerSys but this new comprehensive program has allowed the two companies to address emissions reduction and electrification opportunities across the EnerSys facilities portfolio.
 
The first step in achieving EnerSys’ goals was to conduct an extensive evaluation of the facilities and operations at EnerSys. Trane then designed a decarbonization roadmap to provide EnerSys with a glidepath to achieve their 2040 ambition. This roadmap had design and advisory phases which came at no cost making it an easy first step for EnerSys. The resulting program is made up of several mission-aligned solutions that could be rolled out in a flexible manner based on EnerSys’ priorities. By being a multi-phase series of projects, it is helping EnerSys systematically and cost-effectively reduce their emissions and leverage financial incentives to create a set of projects that have attractive financial returns. 
 
The program kicked off with a comprehensive building automation and controls upgrade at the EnerSys battery manufacturing plant in Warrensburg, MO that will result in over 1,900 mtCO2e operational emissions reduction and approximately $250,000 in annual energy savings. Future intended projects include boiler, compressed air and domestic hot water upgrades at their Richmond, Kentucky facility, and a comprehensive energy optimization project at their headquarters in Reading, PA. There will also be efficiency and electrification upgrades across several other EnerSys sites.
 
While these facilities improvements and enhancements are designed with emissions reduction in mind, efficiency-related projects are also providing substantial energy savings. Trane helped EnerSys incorporate these savings into the overall project financials. One example of this was a collaboration with the local utility for the Warrensburg controls project in which EnerSys was able to capture a substantial utility rebate to support the controls implementation. 
 
As a result of this holistic program, EnerSys expects the improvements they are making to provide benefits for production, safety, and indoor environmental quality in their facilities, as well as a positive impact to their overall promise as a climate technology innovator. By following the strategic roadmap this multi-year, multi-decade, program will continue to gain steam into the future as EnerSys looks to Scope 1 neutrality by 2040.