In the past 18 months, the number of companies setting net zero emission targets has increased by over 40% globally. Many companies are making every effort to promote China's "dual carbon" goals and achieve global carbon neutrality.
To achieve global and Chinese carbon neutrality goals, there are no shortcuts. More fiscal incentives from the government, stricter regulations from regulatory agencies, meaningful changes in energy production and management, and innovation are needed.
Many industrial organizations are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by making wider use of existing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, but renewable energy alone cannot achieve our common goals. In the process of carbon reduction, a new generation of intelligent automation technology is essential, which can digitize, simplify, and measure our work. According to analysis by Accenture and the World Economic Forum, promoting digital technology in various industries has the potential to reduce emissions by 20% by 2050.
The innovation of automation technology is a key support for accelerating the formation of new quality productivity, and the cultivation and development of new quality productivity is the key to promoting the achievement of China's "dual carbon" goals. In the face of the worsening global climate crisis, Chai Xiaozhou, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Intelligent Industrial Technology Group in China, expressed his views on how companies can develop automation technology to promote global carbon neutrality.
Using automation technology to improve equipment efficiency
One of the important measures to promote greenhouse gas emissions reduction is to improve energy efficiency. Automation plays an important role in optimizing energy utilization. By improving process control and equipment health monitoring, equipment can be utilized more efficiently in industrial processes and achieve the same output.
In traditional factories, relying solely on employees to monitor, manage, and operate equipment may lead to energy waste. For example, facilities may still be operating unnecessarily, or energy consumption during the production process may not be optimized. With the introduction of automation technology, factories can accurately control the running time and energy consumption of equipment through real-time monitoring and data analysis. When the production line is not busy, the system can automatically reduce the operating power of the equipment. This automated management not only reduces energy waste, but also lowers carbon emissions, thereby empowering sustainable industrial development.
Advanced sensing and monitoring technology can help digital refineries improve operational efficiency and safety levels. Honeywell provides status detection sensors and control switches for industrial infrastructure such as motors, machine tools, and valve controls, enabling real-time monitoring of speed, position, and pressure. This allows maintenance personnel to perform maintenance before equipment malfunctions, reducing downtime, extending equipment lifespan, and ensuring its safety.
In the field of process control, Honeywell Expert ® The Process Knowledge System (PKS) can help factories achieve efficient, stable, and safe production management through centralized monitoring and distributed control. In the Dalian Hengli Petrochemical project, Honeywell Expert ® The Process Knowledge System (PKS) has helped the company's first phase of power plants operate stably for over a decade. Recently, Honeywell has also used remote upgrade technology to help customers achieve online system upgrades and transformations, minimizing downtime, reducing production losses, while reducing operational costs, and improving system reliability and safety.
Using automation technology to promote the application of renewable energy
Another way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to promote the application of renewable energy. According to data from the National Energy Administration, as of the end of last year, the proportion of renewable energy installed capacity in China's total power generation capacity had exceeded 50%, and renewable energy generation accounted for about one-third of the total electricity consumption in society. Wind and photovoltaic power generation maintained double-digit growth.
Vigorously developing energy storage is of great significance for promoting the application of renewable energy and establishing a new power system, and new energy storage is becoming an important lever for China to accelerate the development of new quality productivity. In the new type of energy storage, hydrogen storage technology utilizes surplus electricity during low periods to electrolyze water for hydrogen production and store it; When the demand for electricity reaches its peak, the stored hydrogen energy is converted into electricity through fuel cells and connected to the public grid, thereby balancing the supply and demand of electricity and improving energy utilization efficiency. Honeywell's advanced green hydrogen and energy storage solutions enable smooth operation and optimized control of electrolytic cell power changes, while achieving end-to-end optimization through embedded advanced control. In May of this year, Honeywell also reached a cooperation agreement on the hydrogen production system project for water electrolysis cells, using automation technology to promote the digital transformation of factories and empower the development of the hydrogen energy industry chain.
Safety is the cornerstone of energy storage power plants. A stable energy storage power station can operate long-term and reliably, ensuring the continuity and stability of power supply, and providing emergency support for the power grid at critical moments. As a high-tech enterprise with a century of technological accumulation, Honeywell has solutions covering power plants in energy storage safety, providing strong support for the automation development of the energy storage industry. Taking Honeywell RG ESGD fixed gas detection solution as an example, this product can monitor gas emissions in the battery energy storage system in real time, effectively reducing the risk of accidents such as fires and explosions, and ensuring the safe operation of the battery system.
Expand the application of automation technology in the field of transportation
In order to make the environment more sustainable, it is necessary to achieve carbon reduction in the transportation industry, as the transportation sector accounts for about 15% of China's terminal carbon emissions. In 2022, the total emissions of four pollutants from motor vehicles in China were 14.662 million tons, with automobiles being the main contributor to the total emissions of pollutants.
Compared to gasoline vehicles, new energy vehicles can significantly reduce carbon emissions during operation, making their development an important part of achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. In 2023, global sales of new energy vehicles will increase by approximately 35%, with China's sales of new energy vehicles reaching nearly 9.5 million units, accounting for over 60% of global sales. The booming development of China's new energy vehicle market coincides with Honeywell's development direction. Honeywell has mature automation technology, diverse sensor product lines, and customized and integrated capabilities tailored to customer needs, helping Chinese new energy vehicle companies improve their safety levels.
Honeywell's sensors and other products have been widely used in China's new energy vehicle companies, helping customers improve battery safety and optimize mileage estimation. As a pioneer in the field of thermal runaway sensors, Honeywell launched related products in 2020, which are now widely used in over a million new energy vehicles. Meanwhile, in the field of new energy battery production processes, Honeywell can provide a range of automation solutions to help customers improve their process level and production efficiency.
In the field of transportation, the emissions from the shipping industry should not be underestimated. According to data from the International Maritime Organization, the global shipping industry emits over 1 billion tons of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane annually. As a relatively clean fossil fuel, liquefied natural gas (LNG) produces fewer harmful emissions when burned than traditional petroleum fuels. Therefore, promoting the development of liquefied natural gas vessels has become a key step in achieving sustainable shipping.
With the strong support of the Chinese government for clean energy and the continuous improvement of related policies, the liquefied natural gas shipping industry in China will usher in a new stage of rapid development. Honeywell can provide integrated automation systems (IAS) for various types of liquefied natural gas carriers, as well as sensors and corresponding systems for processing and monitoring liquids on liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas carriers. For example, Honeywell's automated liquid level measurement technology can provide a comprehensive liquid level measurement solution for cargo holds, ballast water and fuel tanks in ships, as well as temperature and gas measurements in various compartments. Through these automation technologies and products, we help improve the stability of ships, reduce fuel consumption, and promote the sustainable development of the shipping industry.
The new generation of automation technology has pointed the way for reducing emissions and achieving sustainable development goals. Adhering to the strategy of "serving the East", Honeywell collaborates with local partners to achieve more efficient and low-carbon operations through low-carbon, innovative, and advanced automation technologies and solutions, promoting the achievement of China's "dual carbon" goals and creating a brighter and greener future for all mankind.