BBM has implemented a strategic plan aimed at minimising its environmental impact. How? Optimising available resources and limiting the use of new ones
Concern for the environment has characterised BBM Service’s operational and strategic approach for several years. With the aim of improving the environmental performance of its activities, BBM constantly monitors its consumption of natural gas and electricity. Thanks to the periodic analysis of these values, a progressive containment of environmental impacts has been verified.
These results were possible thanks to the strategy introduced by BBM Service towards a low-carbon economy. This strategy includes, for example, the installation of LED lighting fixtures connected to motion sensors. In addition, a large part of BBM’s industrial buildings use a high-efficiency underfloor heating system that is powered by state-of-the-art boilers. One of these is already set up to run on hydrogen.
These actions led to concrete benefits for BBM in San Pellegrino Terme and Lenna. During 2022, there was a 4% decrease in natural gas consumption compared to the previous year. The downward trend also affected electricity purchased from the national grid, which decreased by 11% against an increase in electricity produced (+15%) and sold (+72%).
With regard to the use of solar energy, BBM had already installed a photovoltaic system that allows 90% of the self-produced energy to be self-consumed at the San Pellegrino. Now, the installation of a high-efficiency photovoltaic pole has also been completed in Lenna.
How does photovoltaics work? Photovoltaic panels convert solar energy into electricity, reducing dependence on fossil energy sources. By producing no air pollutants or greenhouse gases, photovoltaics reduce air pollution and pressure on the environment and the surrounding community.
The BBM photovoltaic plant in Lenna
BBM has recently completed the installation of an 80 kW photovoltaic plant, which will produce the electricity for almost the entire production site. The interface between the brand new solar panels and the roof is realised with a ‘BlackSun’ fastening system. This Baraclit system is made of ecological fibre cement and is equipped with metal structures designed to avoid any perforation of the existing roof.
The photovoltaic panels consist of Sunpower Performance 6 COM BF modules with a power output of 500 Wp each. These are high-efficiency modules that enable BBM to use fewer panels and less surface area.
Thanks to this innovation, BBM estimates that it will reduce the electricity needs of the production hub by 30 per cent, and will get a self-consumption of more than 80 per cent.
Even though the area is poorly exposed to sunlight (especially during November-February), BBM still wanted to invest in a form of green energy, which would ensure both economic and energy savings throughout the remaining months of the year. BBM will now test the plant’s first year of operation, but the intention is not to stop there. If, as expected, the investment in the panels will yield clean energy and real benefits on consumption in the plant, BBM will extend the photovoltaic field until it reaches 200 kW of power.
#CleanEnergy #PhotovoltaicInstallations #EnvironmentalSustainability
