Future Of Low Carbon Manufacturing Showcased In ABB China’s Factory In Xiamen

ABB’s production hub in Xiamen has become a flagship site for sustainable manufacturing and is paving the way to a clean energy future in China, with its scalable blueprint for success, which uses ground-breaking new energy monitoring systems combined with on-site renewable energy generation and storage for impressive emission and cost reductions.

China is aiming to hit peak emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060. To make this net zero energy transition a reality, collaboration with the country’s manufacturing sector is essential.

ABB’s Xiamen site

Interventions, like those at ABB’s Xiamen site, are essential to support these targets

Interventions, like those at ABB’s Xiamen site, are essential to support these targets, as the country’s manufacturing sector currently makes up over 28 percent of total global manufacturing output and a significant amount of the emissions.

The Xiamen site – which covers 425,000 square meters and employs over 3,000 people – has reduced its CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions by 13,400 tons, as part of ABB’s global Mission to Zero program.

Smart digital technology applied for decarbonization

This year, Xiamen will be opening its doors to customers and other manufacturers in China to showcase how its smart digital technology has been applied to decarbonize and reduce scope 2 (indirect from electricity) emissions, and help them achieve the same results.

With the installation of 100,000 square meters of rooftop solar panels, the manufacturing hub in Xiamen, which has state-of-the-art production lines for low and medium voltage switchgear and circuit breakers, now generates enough solar energy to cover around 50 percent of the site’s annual electricity energy consumption.

Smart energy management system

A smart energy management system optimizes this newly fitted 12.3 MWp solar energy system and proactively balances supply and demand. The intelligent solution forecasts future power production of the rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels, considering weather conditions to anticipate how much electricity will be generated.

ABB Xiamen’s complex energy system is controlled and proactively managed by ABB Ability Electrification Monitoring and Control for distribution networks, ZEE600. This ‘central intelligence’ node of the energy ecosystem is so sophisticated that it monitors and manages loads, battery storage and EV charging and optimizes energy management across the facility.

Production hub’s e-Storage eHouse solutions

The production hub’s e-Storage eHouse solutions, including power and control equipment

The production hub’s e-Storage eHouse solutions, including power and control equipment, enable the continuous data flow and communication with the ZEE600 control system.

Xiamen’s power system also interacts with State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)’s electricity grid to provide demand-side response services when required.

The connection of the different PV fields, batteries, factory loads, and EV chargers has been made possible with modular power solutions. This makes ABB Xiamen Hub’s solution easy to replicate in other sites, reducing installation time and project complexity. These packaged solutions and all the low and medium voltage devices included are manufactured by ABB in China.

Accelerate the journey to decarbonization

James Zhao, the Senior Vice President of ABB China said: “The scale and pace of our Xiamen carbon reduction journey is our most powerful example of how manufacturers of any size can create low carbon production sites – and quickly.”

James Zhao adds, “By implementing ABB technology that is widely available, we are showing how to accelerate the journey to decarbonization. Our world-class demonstration site will show our customers and partners how low carbon ambitions can be achieved today through intelligent technology.”

ABB Xiamen products and solutions

ABB Xiamen products and solutions are installed in many key infrastructure projects in China

ABB Xiamen products and solutions are installed in many key infrastructure projects in China and beyond, including Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as well as data centers for major internet companies.

The ABB Xiamen hub joins ABB sites in China, Italy, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands, which are also on the journey to achieve carbon neutrality. To find out more about how the facility could become more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions using ABB’s Mission to Zero blueprint, please visit ABB’s official website.

ABB enables a sustainable and resource-efficient future

ABB is a globally renowned technology company in the field of electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated.

Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s approximately 105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.

ABB Electrification

Electrifying the world in a safe, smart and sustainable way, ABB Electrification is a global technology company in electrical distribution and management from source to socket. As the world’s demand for electricity grows, their 50,000+ employees across 100 countries collaborate with customers and partners to transform how people connect, live and work.

They develop innovative products, solutions and digital technologies that enable energy efficiency and a low carbon society across all sectors. By applying global scale with local expertise, they shape and support global trends, deliver excellence for customers and power a sustainable future for society.