Siemens Industry Research Shows Energy Management Vital For Solar And Glass Manufaturers
The UK glass & solar manufacturing sector is making tangible progress in managing its energy consumption, with 79% reporting a beneficial impact on the bottom line as a result of their efforts, according to a new report.
The Siemens Industry report entitled The Future of Energy: The UK Manufacturing Opportunity canvassed the views of 600 board directors, senior management and energy managers from UK manufacturers operating across all major sectors, including manufacturers from the glass & solar industry.
Most glass & solar manufacturers (82%) now view energy as a business critical issue and nearly two thirds (65%) plan to increase their investment in energy management during the next 12 months. The primary drivers behind such activities are to meet regulatory requirements and reduce the organisation's carbon footprint.
When compared to other manufacturing sectors, glass & solar leads the way in terms of understanding their annual business' energy spends, with 78% aware of the cost of energy to their business. The sector is also leading the way by taking active steps to ensure their environmental policies are on display.
Assessed alongside sectors such as chemicals & pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, food & beverage and metals, glass & solar fared less well in terms of commitments to increase energy management investment levels over the next 12 months and sharing successes with staff.
When questioned about perceived barriers to investing in energy management, glass & solar manufacturers were most concerned about uncertainty associated with a return on investment.
Most businesses (70%) had clear energy management objectives in place for the year ahead, with more than (56%) also indicating they had planned for the next five years.
Commenting on the findings, Steve Barker, Head of Energy Efficiency and Environmental Care at Siemens Industry, said, "As a highly energy intensive sector, it is most welcome to witness the progress the glass & solar manufacturing industry is making. Our findings indicate that the sector is being driven by the high energy costs it is having to deal with, as well as recognising and meeting environmental responsibilities. Its main restriction appears to be around an allocation of investment to energy efficiency projects. However, the real reward for glass & solar businesses is evidenced in the bottom line benefit that 79% of companies say they are seeing as a result of the actions they have taken.
"Some are still struggling to recognise the benefits, but often the perceived barriers to investing in energy management can be easily overcome with the right information and flexible financial support from companies like Siemens now readily available.
"There are already many manufacturers taking action in this crucial area and, together with expert technology partners, they can help to inspire and educate those who say they have "˜other priorities' over and above energy management. For the industrial sector, and the high energy consuming glass & solar manufacturers in particular, the challenges around managing energy consumption will only intensify in the years to come and doing nothing is not an option for businesses that want to thrive."