European institutions, citizens and companies are facing an unprecedented challenge: the fight against climate change.
With temperatures increasing, ever more frequent extreme meteorological events and a growing environmental crisis, acting urgently has become imperative.
In this context, the role of companies in the adoption of sustainable practices has become crucial.
Over recent years, there has been a year-on-year increase in the demand for electrical energy, above all in the industrial sector.
In Italy, in 2021, energy consumption amounted to almost 320,000 GWh (300.9 billion kWh). This constituted an increase of 6% with respect to 2020, and was driven first and foremost by industry (+8.2%).
Traditional industrial sectors are among the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, while the energy consumption and environmental impact of businesses represent a tangible threat to the ecological equilibrium of our planet.
However, there is hope in the adoption of sustainable practices. Companies that embrace energy efficiency, the use of renewable energies and the reduction of emissions are not only capable of mitigating environmental damage but also of generating economic and competitive advantages over the long term.
In this context, the trail blazed by AL.PI soles, a company specialising in the manufacture of soles for footwear, is illuminating. Through an ambitious project geared towards energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, financed by Marche Region, the company is demonstrating how a business can be both profitable and respectful of the environment.
How did the AL.PI soles energy efficiency project come about?
From Re-Roofing to the Installation of Photovoltaic Panels: a Comprehensive Initiative
One of the main operations was the overhaul of the roof, replacing the old fibre-cement panels with sandwich panels – an insulated covering composed of two resistant slabs of metal or wood, enclosing a layer of lightweight insulating material.
Why did we decide to install sandwich panels?
We opted to use these panels due to their multiple advantages:
- highly resistant to fire, stress, wear and atmospheric agents (highly durable)
- lightweight, minimal burden on the host structure
- minimal heat dissipation and high level of energy saving
- can be installed on existing materials
- easy to install, often come with tongue-and-groove fittings
- customisable depending on the requirements and the desired aesthetic effect.
The installation of these panels paved the way for the installation of a state-of-the-art photovoltaic system for AL.PI soles.
This operation saw the installation on the roof of our premises of a total of 361 high-performance solar panels, constituting a 450 kW photovoltaic system.
This system, powered by the sun, is designed to generate an amount of clean energy estimated at 540,000 kWh per year, of which at least 70% will be used internally by the company.
But our efforts to make our energy more efficient do not end there.
Storage and Recharging Batteries for Electric Vehicles: towards Self-Sufficiency.
To maximise internal consumption of the energy generated, AL.PI soles has installed a 23.2 kWh storage battery, enabling a significant increase in internal consumption, up to 79%. In addition, the company has installed a charging station for hybrid vehicles, with a maximum output of 22 kW. Together, these initiatives amount to a total of 44 kW, thus demonstrating a tangible commitment towards sustainable mobility.
From the monitoring of consumption to the reduction of emissions: a step forward towards Sustainable Industry.
AL.PI soles operations to ensure energy efficiency concerned not only the implementation of advanced technologies for the saving of energy but also the optimisation of existing processes. AL.PI soles has implemented a system to monitor the filtering of fumes, regulating the opening of the air flaps in response to the moulding cycle. In addition, the company has replaced the dust-filtering system with a more efficient model, reducing the installed power and enhancing the overall efficiency.
Monitoring Consumption: the Key to the Future of Energy
Last of all, AL.PI soles is working hard to promote energy transparency and awareness through the installation of a system for the monitoring of consumption. This tool will provide the company with real-time data on its energy consumption, enabling ongoing optimisation and more precise monitoring.
Towards a more Sustainable Future
With these operations, AL.PI soles is not only reducing its environmental impact but also coming closer to the objective of energy self-sufficiency.
The result of these operations geared towards energy efficiency and energy independence will lead the company towards a substantial energy saving and a high level of avoided emissions:
- Primary energy saved 378 MWh/year
- Energy saved 32 TEP/year;
- Emissions avoided 309,906 kg of CO2 equivalent/year
As Demetrio Biancucci, Co-Founder of AL.PI soles, states: “Our commitment is to create a virtuous circle in order to reduce waste, accepting the challenge of producing zero waste and generating increasing amounts of renewable energy, significantly boosting our energy independence with a view to ensuring that a cleaner future awaits our children and our world.”
