ABB, IBM, Schneider Electric: IoT Driving Efficiency Gains
Technology providers are reporting a surge in industrial adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), as manufacturers seek to reduce emissions and improve waste management through connected infrastructure.
ABB, Schneider Electric and IBM in particular are reporting increased adoption of IoT systems, particularly as industrial companies seek to reduce their environmental impact through improved data collection and analysis.
IoT refers to a network of connected devices that are equipped with sensors, software and communications technology.
Research from ABB in particular highlights that there is significant room for growth in industrial IoT implementation. Significantly, whilst 96% of industrial decision makers across 12 industrial sectors acknowledge digitalisation's importance, only 35% have deployed IoT systems at scale across their operations.
Stuart Thompson, President of ABB's Electrification Service Division, says: "This gap presents an opportunity, and it underscores a broader narrative about digitalisation's role in enhancing both operational efficiency and circularity."
ABB and Schneider Electric target industrial energy waste
The drive towards IoT adoption comes as energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, including those from electricity generation, heating and transport, account for 73% of global emissions.
The International Energy Agency reports that energy efficiency improvements could reduce emissions by 3.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e), representing a 12% reduction from 2017 levels. In industrial applications, the potential reduction reaches 34%.
In response, Schneider Electric, the French multinational provider of electrical equipment and automation systems, has deployed its EcoStruxure platform at EcoDataCenter in Sweden.
The system incorporates IoT sensors that monitor operational efficiency and sustainability metrics while enabling waste heat recycling to the local power grid.
The EcoStruxure platform connects three layers of technology: IoT-enabled products, edge control systems and applications with analytics capabilities. This integration allows real-time monitoring and optimisation of energy usage across the facility.
On this, Gwenaelle Avice Huet, Executive Vice President of Europe Operations at Schneider Electric, says: "We're committed to helping our clients harness AI sustainably. We support our customers on their paths to energy efficiency and sustainability by integrating AI technologies into our solutions.
"A prime example is our collaboration with EcoDataCenter in Sweden which utilises our EcoStruxure platform."
Technology pioneers target global waste challenge
Elsewhere, in the waste management sector, IBM, the US technology and consulting corporation, has partnered with Hera, an Italian multi-utility company, to implement IoT-based recycling solutions.
The system processes 5.7 million tonnes of waste annually across 89 facilities.
Hera's implementation of IBM Cloud Paks, a containerised software platform, enables the collection and analysis of data from various sources, including truck-mounted cameras. The system helps identify recyclable materials, reducing the need for manual sorting while increasing recovery rates.
The platform integrates data from multiple sources to create a comprehensive view of waste management operations. This allows Hera to optimise its recycling processes and improve the cost efficiency of material recovery by reducing reliance on manual sorting operations.
Both energy and waste management applications demonstrate how IoT technology can address environmental challenges while delivering operational benefits.
Stuart at ABB adds: "Right now, we have the chance to move beyond efficiency and productivity as sole primary goals, and reinforce our role as positive contributors to society more broadly.
"We can embrace digitalisation for better resource management and sustainable practices."
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