How energy data management supports sustainability

According to the Deloitte 2023 CxO Sustainability Report, 75 percent of organisations have increased their sustainability investment over the past year. Nearly one in six companies have taken actions to increase energy efficiency and 54 percent of them have invested in energy-efficient or climate-friendly machinery, technologies and equipment. 

To succeed, these companies must measure their performance against sustainability targets. Accurate reporting is core to this strategy and is now a legal requirement. 

Starting from January 2025, around 50,000 EU companies will need to report on their sustainability progress under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The Directive applies to large companies, listed small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and non-EU companies generating over €150
million on the EU market.

Sustainability reporting challenges 
SMEs may lack the resources to invest in dedicated environmental, social and governance (ESG) software or specialised personnel to monitor greenhouse gas emissions. These companies must also track indirect emissions generated by other stakeholders along their value chains. These are the so-called scope three emissions, which can be particularly difficult to measure.   

Manual processes aren’t a viable alternative. Monitoring emissions and energy consumption involves regular on-site meter readings. This process can be costly and time-consuming, as meters may be in hard-to-reach locations. In addition, manual data entry can lead to errors and inaccurate reporting. 

Another limitation of manual processes is the lack of
continuous real-time energy monitoring. It is virtually impossible to gain valuable insight into consumption trends and implement efficiency measures without real-time data. 
 
Energy data management software 
EDMS can help companies continuously gather and analyse information from multiple data points to generate accurate reports on energy consumption and emissions. 

Thanks to more than 300 connection options, software solutions like zenon from COPA-DATA connect with virtually any hardware out-of-the-box. Companies can collect and process all the data on a single platform. By gaining real-time visibility into energy usage patterns, companies can identify inefficiencies and implement targeted improvements, achieving energy savings and reducing carbon emissions. 

By automating data collection, solutions like zenon also streamline reporting
and auditing, helping companies meet their regulatory requirements.

Brewing sustainably 
The Celarevo brewery in Serbia, owned by the Carlsberg Group, is an excellent example of how companies can progress toward sustainability with an automated EDMS.   

Celarevo’s EDMS is based on the zenon software. This setup enables the brewery to easily monitor energy consumption in real time, detecting peaks and irregularities during production. This approach ensures compliance with energy efficiency standard ISO 50001, while enabling data exchange with other databases, including SAP or other ERP systems. 

Thanks to its compatibility with multiple HMIs, zenon also enhances the user experience. Operators can easily visualise data on their devices and react promptly to increased
consumption or other anomalies.

Despite increasing its production, Celarevo achieved annual steam consumption savings of four percent – that’s the equivalent of 0.45kWh per hl of beer. The brewery also achieved three percent water savings or 0.15hl of water per hl of beer. 

Automated data collection, reporting and analysis also enhanced operational efficiency, eliminating on-site meter readings and the time spent on manual data entry. By freeing up these resources, the company can focus on making progress toward its sustainability goals. 

Toward better sustainability reporting 
Modern EDMS can go a long way toward helping companies report on sustainability more accurately. This approach should be a cornerstone of every organisation’s sustainability strategy, from large to small companies. Real-time monitoring and data analysis support these organisations on their path to a sustainable future.