Trane's comprehensive approach to helping customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electrify their operations is helping climate tech leader EnerSys achieve energy efficiency and ambitious sustainability goals while delivering significant operational and financial benefits.
EnerSys is an industry-leading battery manufacturer with a broad global manufacturing footprint. As a critical supplier of battery technology that supports the growing need for clean energy storage, EnerSys plays an important role in the climate transition. "Our products are truly 'climate technology,' and we have a long history of reliably delivering innovation in energy storage and charging solutions," explained Sam Shiroff, Senior Director of Global Sustainability at EnerSys.
EnerSys is on a mission to lead its sector toward a net zero carbon future. It plans to achieve Scope 1 carbon neutrality—elimination of direct fossil use—by 2040. To support this commitment, EnerSys has earmarked $20M through a Revolving Green Fund for sustainability projects to be implemented from 2023 to 2028.
"We are focusing on Scope 1 emissions because we understand that electrification is a key to decarbonization and that the batteries we make can also play a key role in decarbonizing electricity by increasing the amount of renewable energy that can be used," shared Shiroff.
Such a bold target has required EnerSys to look at every area of its operation to understand the use of fossil fuels and find opportunities to drive near-term efficiencies while ultimately transitioning to alternative fuel sources. The longstanding relationship between EnerSys and Trane - a trusted HVAC and energy solutions provider - became even more fruitful as the two companies collaborated on a comprehensive program to address emissions reduction and electrification opportunities. Through a comprehensive engagement, Trane is helping EnerSys identify and prioritize opportunities with the highest return on investments from financial and carbon reduction perspectives.
"Trane's biggest advantage is our platform, which is a centralized group of resources arrayed to support a customer in their mission," said Trevor Joelson, Energy & Decarbonization Services Account Executive at Trane. "We customize the delivery of those resources to create unique decarbonization and efficiency programs for our customers."
Through an extensive evaluation of the facilities and operations at EnerSys, Trane helped design a decarbonization roadmap to provide EnerSys with a glide path to achieve its 2040 ambition. Designed as a multi-phase series of projects to help EnerSys systematically and cost-effectively reduce their emissions and strategically transition to electrified equipment, the program kicked off with a comprehensive automation and controls upgrade at EnerSys's Warrensburg, Missouri plant, resulting in over 1,900 mtCO2e operational emissions reduction and approximately $250,000 in annual energy savings. Future projects include upgrades at Richmond, Kentucky, and Reading, Pennsylvania facilities and efficiency and electrification improvements across several other sites.
Christina Sivulka, Global Sustainability Senior Manager at EnerSys, emphasizes that "We're proving that sustainability isn't a trade-off, but rather a strategic advantage and a smart business strategy. By prioritizing our carbon reduction goals, we're unlocking a world of efficiencies and savings previously unseen, proving that sustainability isn't just a commitment - it's a catalyst for innovation and growth." While these facility improvements and enhancements are designed to reduce emissions, efficiency-related projects also provide substantial energy savings that Trane has helped EnerSys incorporate into the overall project financials. Additionally, by collaborating with the local utility for the Warrensburg controls project, EnerSys was able to capture a substantial utility rebate to support the controls implementation.
"We expect this engagement is going to be a model for other long-term decarbonization programs," said Joelson. "The electrified, low-carbon, sustainable future isn't coming someday, it's here now. Trane can help turn decarbonization commitments into reality."
EnerSys's journey demonstrates how manufacturers can take meaningful action toward decarbonization while improving business operations with the right collaboration to guide the way.
