Alfa Laval Energy Division : The power of energy efficiency
In this interview , I spoke with Alfa Laval ’ s Julien Gennetier ( VP Energy Division and President BU Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers ) and Jenny
Jamot ( Process Engineer ) about the company ’ s wider goals , the Alfa Laval Energy Division ’ s momentum building for success , and the vital role optimisation plays in the fight for a stable climate future .
By Ellie Pritchard
In 2021 , Alfa Laval launched a new sustainability strategy centred around climate , circularity , care , and commitment . Each ‘ C ’ represents the company ’ s values and target points for promoting a healthy internal and external culture . Commitment relates to ethics and behaviours , ensuring compliance to government policies and following leading advice . Care refers to an internal culture of diversity , as well as maximising the health and safety of its employees and customers . Circularity looks to ways in which the company can improve and promote environmental factors in its own processes by focusing on energy efficiency , water consumption and reuse , chemical reduction , and material recycling . And , of course , climate demonstrates the targets Alfa Laval intends to reach as part of its responsibility to secure a stable climate future : the company is working to become carbon neutral by 2030 , has signed the 1.5 degree business playbook , and aims to reduce scopes 1 and 2 emissions to 0 % and scope 3 to 50 % by 2030 . Of the many different roadmaps for reaching Net Zero by a certain date , Alfa Laval follows the IEA plan . “ One of IEA ’ s focuses is on the development of clean energy sources like renewable power , fuels , chemicals , power-to-x , fuel
cells and so on ,” says Julien . “ We see ourselves as key enablers of the development and later deployment of these technologies .” Another of the IEA ’ s focuses is energy efficiency which it states should contribute to 40 % of the CO2 emission reduction alone following its roadmap . This aspect is more about the deployment and improvement of existing technology rather than new development . Alfa Laval is just as ambitious in this regard , as Julien affirms : “ This is what the Energy Division does ; the energy efficiency of our heat exchangers has been the number one value proposition since we created the technology some 90 years ago . Our aim is to be synonymous with energy efficiency , just as Volvo is synonymous with safety .” Alfa Laval sees clear opportunities to assist customers pressured by high energy prices and decarbonisation roadmaps by ensuring significant energy savings within their processes . “ Essentially , this is not new to us ; we have always had this focus ,” clarifies Jenny . “ But as efficiency becomes more important on the global agenda , the industry needs companies with experience and tried-and-tested solutions ; we offer a great fit for those demands .”
Holistic approach There is a clear understanding of the climate targets and expectations across the process industries , but how to start is another question entirely . Julien suggests that the answer is a holistic approach . “ We need to identify where those energy efficiency opportunities lie in order to bring the best cases for investment proposal ,” he says . “ Every customer wants to know : Where do I www . heat-exchanger-world . com Heat Exchanger World October 2022
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