MAHLE – Yan Huang – 2017

Goals 

MAHLE Technology Investment (China) Co., Ltd. (MTC), a global manufacturing company, intended on developing a strategic sustainability plan that encompassed over 50 MAHLE branches in the Asia-Pacific region by the end of 2017. MTC had already collected energy use data from these branches, but in order to set specific energy reduction goals, it needed to be analyzed. EDF Climate Corps fellow Yan Huang was brought in to perform the analysis and propose energy-savings projects with good ROI.  

Solutions

After analyzing the energy data of the 50 branches, Huang prioritized plants with the highest energy intensity as those in need of emission reduction plans. She recommended a goal of reducing energy intensity 20% by 2020 as well as having branches with decreasing energy intensity trends share their best practices with other plants.

Through the analysis, combined with findings from a Treasure Hunt activity, Huang identified opportunities to improve equipment efficiency. She suggested upgrading AC units and water pumping systems with high efficiency pumps and motors, controlling cooling water temperatures and installing variable frequency drives.

Lastly, Huang explored the feasibility of doing an LED retrofit, strengthening heat insulation and improving equipment maintenance. 

Potential Impact

The proposed energy efficiency projects have the potential to achieve a 27% reduction of MTC’s total annual electricity use, equivalent to about 1,225,000 kWh of electricity or 1,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Implementing these at MAHLE’s headquarters would send a message to all the branches in the Asia-Pacific region showing their determination for sustainable development and energy efficiency.