Are you ready for mandatory emissions reporting?

Singapore has one of the world's most comprehensive emissions reporting programmes, making the city-state’s progress to net zero one of the most advanced.

Local businesses that emit 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year are required to measure and report their total direct emissions.¹ They do not, however, need to report on scope 3, or value chain emissions. It is these emissions that present one of the biggest risks to companies as they are outside direct control and can account for as much as 95% of total emissions.²

Measuring, reducing and reporting on emissions prepares your business for changes to reporting requirements while also helping achieve your ESG goals. Getting ahead in emissions measurement also shows investors that their money is being spent on mitigating, not increasing, climate risk.

The heavy polluter – Manufacturing

Industrial processes are often the biggest polluters for companies that produce goods and, as such, should take up a significant chunk of the time spent on emissions reduction. However, this large volume of emissions also provides companies with the most potential for reduction.

IIoT and emissions reduction

Knowing where we generate emissions is the first piece of the puzzle, and for manufacturers, IIoT can play an important role in detecting waste and limiting energy usage.

Detecting wastage

Through a series of sensors, IIoT can detect waste by identifying when a machine has stopped working and alert maintenance functions that a repair is needed. These sensors can also detect when a machine is running at sub-optimal levels and trigger a maintenance request, avoiding the downtime of stalled operations.

Preserving resources

IIoT plays a vital role in the longevity of tools and equipment. Attaching GPS tracking tags makes these critical items findable, despite the number of people using them over a day. Also, instead of buying multiple tools to ensure continuity, workers can locate the single item they need, quickly.

Monitoring energy usage

Since energy creates the most emissions, monitoring usage across machine operations, HVAC and lighting is essential. IIoT devices supply real-time data and enable energy to be rediverted only where it is needed. This is particularly critical for companies with a large factory floor or multiple locations where wasted energy would otherwise remain undetected.

Reporting on emissions

As well as reducing and mitigating the use of fossil fuels, IIoT can provide automated emissions reporting. Sensors placed in flues and chimneys monitor emissions and leakage before sending reports back to a central data source.

Layering tech to enhance IIoT

IIoT alone won’t save the day. Plus, the higher demands we make on IIoT, the greater pressure we’ll put on our systems. As IIoT becomes more widespread, so will demands on networks, connected devices and latency.

Combining IIoT sensors and monitors with the ultra-low latency capabilities of 5G gives higher device capacity and greater speeds, and supports our transition to low-impact manufacturing. 5G also makes the connections between IIoT devices seamless.

The 5G Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) platform powers IIoT deployments, allowing enormous amounts of data to be processed, stored and analysed in real time. This means industrial environments can be managed quickly and remotely, reducing emissions by removing the need for travel from engineers. In addition, video analytics enabled by the MEC platform can also detect faulty products during production, reducing emissions from the associated wastage.

What’s next for sustainability reporting?

Although emissions are the planet’s most pressing problem, it is not the final step in climate stability. In the near future, it is expected that companies will be required to report on their commitment to a circular economy, with the use of raw materials coming under particular scrutiny.

The financial aspect of business will also be analysed for its green credentials, with more extensive interrogation of financing and bonds expected. No longer will it be acceptable to invest in non-sustainable or unethical sources, and investors will increasingly require a portfolio that reflects favourably on them.

Talk to us to see how technology can reduce emissions.

References:

1. The National Environment Agency, 2018, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions measurement and reporting requirements
2. CNBC, 2021, Climate experts are worried about the toughest carbon emissions for companies to capture