Paving the way to carbon neutrality: Energy transition roadmaps for transforming Technical Building Services in factories

The efficient re-design of technical building services (TBS) remains a pivotal challenge in the pursuit of carbon neutrality within factories. Current energy solutions often fail to meet sustainability targets, hindered by complex interactions between technological and economic factors. An approach for guiding factory managers in selecting and implementing effective energy systems for carbon-neutral production is proposed. The approach utilizes a simulation tool coupled with an evaluation software to model various transformation paths and the associated configurations of TBS. By simulating multiple scenarios, the approach identifies the best order of technology deployment, accounting for economic feasibility, peak load management, and carbon emission reduction. The analysis highlights critical interactions between different energy flows inside a factory and identifies potential conflicts that could impact overall efficiency. Based on these results the best transformation path is selected. The approach was validated through a detailed case study on an electronic manufacturer, yielding valuable insights and practical recommendations for TBS transformation. Results demonstrate significant potential for carbon emission reduction and more efficient energy management. Thus, this approach empowers factory managers to make informed decisions towards achieving environmentally and economically sustainable production.