Changing the direction of climate change
The level of heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere need to be reduced to limit the global temperature rise to 2’C above preindustrial levels, as stated in the Paris Climate Agreement (signed in 2016). Climate change is causing many adverse impacts such as water scarcity, extreme weather conditions, storms and flooding. These changes are expected to have serious longterm consequences on our living conditions unless the direction is changed. Every step is counted, large and small.
Taking our own steps towards reducing the carbon footprint
Kemira introduced a climate change target in 2014 to reduce the Kemira Carbon Index by 20 percentage points by the end of 2020, compared to the baseline year 2012. Our key measures to reduce our carbon emissions include:
- Purchasing electricity and steam, which are generated using renewable, or less carbon-intensive energy sources
- Shifting our use of fuels towards less carbon-intensive energy sources
- Improving energy efficiency at our manufacturing sites
For example, in 2017, the share of renewable energy was 25% of the total fuel and purchased energy input.
How our manufacturing sites are adding to low carbon economy?
Kemira’s Bradford site is one of the forerunners in contributing to the low-carbon economy of our manufacturing sites. The site has installed an array of Solar Panels on the roof of the main warehouse (see attached photo). The system, which was installed and commissioned in January 2014, consists of 1000 solar panels which deliver approximately 180 MWh of electrical energy to the site each year.
Graham Scarborough, Process Technology Team Leader of Bradford site, keeps a close eye on the condition and performance of the solar power plant, and obtains on-line data of the solar power output into his mobile phone.
“We maintain the solar power plant in top condition and, as an example, over the 3 days of the recent nice and sunny bank holiday weekend alone, the system generated more than enough electricity (4,1 MWh) to power the average UK household for an entire year!” says Scarborough.
“Energy has been in focus here in Bradford for several years. We are working on a continuous basis to optimize both the power generation and the energy efficiency of our manufacturing lines, as a part of the E3plus energy efficiency program. All these activities support achieving Kemira’s carbon emissions reduction targets, both on site and on corporate level”, says David Goult, Bradford site manager.