Sustainability isn't just a buzzword - it's an imperative.
Across every industry, businesses are moving towards net-zero emissions and carbon neutrality, propelled by government incentives, shifting public demand, and the economic feasibility of renewable energy. In 2023 alone, renewable energy investments are projected to reach a record-breaking 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars, [1] outpacing projected fossil fuel investments. [2]
Aside from meeting environmental goals, the transition to sustainability also enables organizations to bolster financial performance, catalyze revenue growth, and ensure long-term profitability. The demand for sustainable solutions is increasing as more and more companies set sustainability targets—and businesses are turning to renewable energy manufacturers for solutions to meet this rising demand.
Deliver renewable energy reliably, sustainably, and at scale
While the energy transition is a remarkable opportunity for manufacturers producing renewable energy products, scaling to meet demand presents challenges. Scaling makes it difficult to maintain quality standards, especially when organizations are forced to contend with a shortage of skilled workers. Employee training and upskilling at scale—and maintaining compliance along the way—has never been more important, adding additional pressure to an industry in transformation.
For renewable energy manufacturers, scaling to capture this opportunity, overcome dynamic challenges, and meet environmental stewardship goals along the way requires a new approach. It starts with digitizing operations, empowering people, and optimizing production, all of which can be accomplished by adopting and augmenting operations with new, innovative technologies.
Digitize your operations to increase efficiency
Many renewable manufacturing organizations today rely on manual and paper-based processes. While these processes are necessary and prevalent, they’re often inefficient and resource-intensive—and above all, challenging to scale.
For example, solar panel manufacturer First Solar was facing a rising demand for solar products and needed to scale manufacturing efforts by building new facilities closer to demand hubs. Together with Kalypso, a Rockwell Automation business, they were able to digitize their systems and break down information siloes to create a digital twin of their facilities that replicated physical operations. This effort resulted in a data-driven operation with lower costs, reduced waste, and improved visibility, control, and productivity across production.
However, digitizing systems isn’t something that can be done instantly or haphazardly. It starts with connecting devices and machines and standardizing data so systems speak the same language.
With the ability to capture and standardize data, renewable energy manufacturers can then leverage innovative solutions that unlock valuable insights. By harnessing analytics and AI, it’s possible to identify patterns, forecast demand, and make data-driven decisions. This foresight is invaluable when planning for scale and helps ensure that products and services maintain high standards even as production volumes increase. Scenarios like predictive maintenance allow manufacturers maintain operational continuity—proactively addressing downtime to improve fixed asset utilization. And to reduce the risk associated with scaling operations, digital twins simulate new processes or changes in a virtual environment before they are implemented in the real world.
Upskill your workforce and empower employees to work efficiently
With labor pools shrinking year after year, training and maintaining a skilled workforce is critical. Well-trained employees are more productive and can handle both increased workloads and complex tasks efficiently, allowing businesses to scale operations while the next generation of the workforce is trained.
To quickly boost new workers’ skills, augmented reality (AR) tools help streamline the onboarding process by providing immersive and interactive training experiences. Beyond onboarding, AR solutions also provide continuous learning opportunities for even the most skilled employees. Training employees to use the latest techniques and technologies ensures they stay adaptable and are able to take on new responsibilities as business expands.
Additionally, connecting employees digitally enables seamless communication and collaboration across teams and locations. Digital tools like smart devices and remote assistance solutions provide the flexibility to access operational information and perform tasks from almost anywhere. These connected worker solutions enable the exchange of real-time information to reduce downtime, minimize the risk of accidents, and ensure that employees can make informed decisions promptly.
Achieve environmental stewardship goals by optimizing production
Manufacturers don’t need to compromise their own environmental initiatives as they scale. By keeping sustainability goals in mind from the start, they can reduce their environmental footprint and maintain ethical and environmental commitments as business expands.
To ensure enterprises stay agile while minimizing resource consumption, AI-driven tools dynamically adjust processes in real-time based on predicted conditions. Specifically, advanced analytics can measure and monitor water, air, gas, energy, and steam (WAGES) usage and energy intensity—helping identify areas for improvement, pinpoint processes for optimization, and avoid safety and compliance risks. Advanced monitoring and automation systems that leverage data from existing assets enable organizations to maximize their current investments and reduce overconsumption and waste.
With these connected systems in place, organizations can establish and improve upon baselines within their operations to help them achieve goals like reducing scope 1 and scope 2 emissions.
Increase capacity while protecting operations from evolving cybersecurity threats
As connectivity and automation increase, so does cybersecurity risk. It’s important to take a proactive and holistic approach to operational technology cybersecurity, ensuring vulnerabilities are identified and addressed to safeguard critical infrastructure and data. A breach in security can disrupt operations, compromise worker safety, and result in significant financial losses. As businesses expand capacities, investing in cybersecurity infrastructure is not just a best practice, it's a fundamental requirement.
Comprehensive network design and cybersecurity solutions can be used to monitor operations and help ensure organizations are compliant and up to date with the latest cybersecurity regulations. By integrating cybersecurity solutions and technology into growth plans, renewable energy companies can scale confidently, knowing they are fortified against the evolving threat landscape.
Trusted partners can help you make the most of opportunity without sacrificing sustainability
As demand for sustainable solutions increases, renewable energy manufacturers need to scale quickly and efficiently. Digitizing operations, upskilling and training the workforce, and optimizing production to increase capacity are all important steps for renewable energy manufacturers looking to scale sustainably without compromising core business values. By connecting with a trusted and experienced partner, manufacturers can make smart, targeted investments that maximize benefits, minimize risk, and meet their organizations’ unique needs.
At Rockwell Automation, we’re dedicated to helping renewable energy manufacturers scale while meeting their own sustainability goals. We have more than 120 years of experience providing proven services and solutions to industrial companies around the world. Alongside an extensive strategic partner network, we offer the flexibility businesses need to address their unique challenges—ensuring that they get the help they need to scale sustainably, today and into the future.
Learn more about how Rockwell Automation can help you scale sustainably today.
[1] “World Energy Investment 2023” International Energy Agency, 2023.
[2] “Clean energy investment is extending its lead…” International Energy Agency, May 25, 2023.
