In a recent discussion, Damien Biron and Henri Standaert shared their experience on regulatory audits and energy optimization initiatives within their 3 concrete plants at CCB France.
What added value do regulatory audits bring?
CCB, and by extension CCB France, has embarked on a decarbonization strategy in recent years. The primary objective of these audits was therefore, initially, to comply with French legislation, but above all to obtain a comprehensive analysis of the energy efficiency and thus the industrial performance of their processes.
Henri Standaert stressed the importance of having well-structured audits to identify concrete areas for improvement and reduce their energy consumption.
Link between energy audits and industrial performance?
Damien Biron, head of production, added that these audits allowed the company to compare itself to similar competitor sites and, internally, to assess the performance of the three audited sites. While performing relatively well compared to the industry average, the audit nevertheless identified areas for further improvement.
- Energy efficiency and good operating practices for facilities
- Acceleration of the installation of solar panels for self-consumption
- Take advantage of the renewal of end-of-life equipment to integrate the best available technologies, including, in the future, the electrification of construction equipment.
The audits enabled them to create a precise energy map of their facilities. This allowed them to compare themselves to industry standards and identify areas requiring fine-tuning.
For example, a significant impact identified during the audits was the discovery of overconsumption, particularly related to compressors, which are often overlooked in favor of larger equipment. This realization led to immediate actions to improve energy efficiency.
Alongside consumption analysis, CCB had already begun developing a renewable energy production strategy using photovoltaic panels, the analysis of which demonstrated positive short-term returns. Audits show that the amount of energy produced by these panels for self-consumption is a real advantage and that a larger-scale deployment could lead to energy self-sufficiency for the sites.
Why did you choose Powesco?
Powesco was chosen for these audits based on competitive pricing, increased availability, and detailed process documentation. The quality of service and the established trust were key factors in our future recommendation.
In conclusion, the audits not only enabled compliance with regulations, but also paved the way for significant improvements in energy efficiency, thereby strengthening the company's position in its market and improving the essential decarbonization strategy for concrete.
