Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  April 8, 2024

ESAB Expands Scope 1 and 2 Reduction Goals

Industrial compounder ESAB Corporation announced an expanded commitment to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2035 from a 2022 baseline. The company previously announced a 30% goal by 2030.

ESAB's strategy for reducing its GHG footprint includes identifying opportunities to reduce energy consumption, improve energy efficiency, and exploring opportunities to use more renewable energy.

The company already has a target in place of 50% of global electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. During 2023, ESAB hit 9% of the target, an increase of 2% over the previous year, utilizing a mixture of power purchase agreements (PPAs), green supply contracts, and generation of onsite renewable electricity at its facilities.

On the energy efficiency front, ESAB conducted a series of energy workshops and training programs at 20 of its 27 global manufacturing facilities over the last two years, partnering with third-party consultants to identify potential improvements. These opportunities included improved energy monitoring, installation of variable frequency drives on pumps, fans, and motors throughout the facilities, and applications for high-efficiency nozzles to optimize compressed air usage in its plants.

At the conclusion of these eight to ten-week sessions, each facility developed a custom list of actionable energy efficiency projects for the site. These programs also equipped facility leaders with additional tools to develop actionable energy roadmaps and identify opportunities to improve on-site energy efficiency. Teams are now implementing these projects throughout the plants with approximately 60 projects completed to date. Collectively, these projects are expected to save an estimated five gigawatt-hours per year.

Details were released as part of ESAB’s second sustainability report.

“This year, as we celebrate 120 years as a company, we are excited to showcase the ongoing efforts towards shaping a better world and improving the communities in which we work and live,” said Shyam P. Kambeyanda, President and CEO, ESAB Corporation, in a statement. “In addition to our environmental commitments and leading safety records, we are dedicated to designing products that reduce our carbon footprint.”