Initiatives suggested by the Global eSustainability Initiatives could see ICT companies worldwide reduce their emissions to at least 15pc below 1990 levels by 2020, or an energy efficiency cost saving of €600bn.
ICT industry believes new initiatives ranging from smart grids, buildings, logistics and motor systems could provide the most accessible opportunities to achieve these savings.
Scientists and economists originally suggested the ICT industry could reach reductions of at least 20pc below 1990 levels by 2020.
The report by various organisations, including Intel which employs 5,000 people in Ireland, says this is an opportunity that can not be overlooked.
The report calls for the introduction of smart motor systems. A review of manufacturing in China identified that without optimisation, 10pc of China’s emissions (2pc of global emissions) in 2020 will come from its own motor systems alone. To improve industrial efficiency by 10pc would deliver savings of up to 200 million tonnes in carbon emissions
Applied globally, optimised motors and industrial automation would produce energy savings worth €68bn by 2020.
Another suggestion is that through a host of efficiencies in transport and storage, smart logistics in Europe could deliver fuel, electricity and heating savings worth €280bn by 2020.
Better design of smart buildings – particularly in North America – including better management and automation could also produce global energy savings of €216bn.
Smarter electricity grids have been identified as the largest opportunity and could globally reduce carbon emissions and generate savings of €79bn.
By John Kennedy
