Energy is a necessity that cuts across all sectors of economic activity and its cost, as well as the quantity needed to produce a product or service, has a direct effect on its final price.
Rising energy prices affect the profitability of companies and are one of the factors with a major impact on their competitiveness. This effect, although transversal, can vary according to the type of energy used, the size of the company and the economic sector in which it operates.
"It is imperative that companies see the energy transition as an opportunity for sustainable development."
João Guerra, Marketing & Communication Director at Helexia
The energy transition, as part of a decarbonization roadmap, optimizes energy consumption, reduces the impact on the planet and contributes to a competitive advantage in the way companies operate and position themselves in the market.
The most popular measure for reducing energy costs among companies is the installation of photovoltaic plants to produce renewable energy, encouraged by the favorable legal framework for self-consumption and the average annual availability of global solar radiation in the territory of between 1572 and 1987 kWh/m2. For comparison, cities like Munich or Paris have radiation of around 1150 kWh/m2, 35% less than Lisbon.
This endogenous factor for the national business community, which needs to export, brings enormous competitive benefits. By opting for solar self-consumption, companies have a direct reduction in the cost of energy, as part of it is produced locally from renewable sources, while at the same time reducing their dependence on the electricity grid. The reduction in carbon footprint, with a direct contribution to a low-carbon economy, is another benefit.
Acting on the energy production side is just one of the (important) actions that companies can take; another is to act on the consumption side, and this is where energy efficiency comes in. When these two axes, production and consumption, occur simultaneously, we are looking at a company that is making strides towards optimizing its energy consumption and, as such, decarbonizing its activity.
Dominó Ceramics, a practical example of energy efficiency
Let's take a practical example from a company in the ceramics sector, Dominó Cerâmicas, located in Condeixa-a-Nova, which sells ceramic floor and wall tiles. Dominó makes a big commitment to the design of its products, leading it to export around 50% of its production, which can now be found in more than 50 countries.
Dominó has had a 1MWp plant installed on its roof since 2021. To date, this plant has produced around 3GWh of clean energy, brought savings of around 100,000 euros and avoided the emission of 1500 tons of CO2. The investment of around €800K was made by Helexia and included the renovation of part of the roof.
Energy efficiency and clean energy
In addition to the 1 MWp plant, Dominó has implemented thermal insulation in the drying process, reducing thermal losses by 95%. The thermal insulation was applied to five pieces of equipment that are part of the plant's drying process, where the surfaces are at 140ºC.
In the drying process, moisture is removed from the pieces in order to increase mechanical resistance and provide the right temperature for the glazing process. These insulations maintain the ideal temperature range for the equipment, reducing thermal losses by 95% and avoiding a lot of wasted energy. The return on investment is less than 5 years.
This project, developed by the Portuguese company Ewen, brings the following benefits:
- Cost reduction: Thermal insulation helps reduce energy consumption, which results in lower operating costs;
- Improved energy efficiency: Keeps the internal temperature of equipment stable and conducive to normal operation;
- Increased safety: Thermal insulation can help prevent accidents such as burns or electric shocks by preventing hot surfaces from coming into contact with people;
- Protecting the environment and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption.
Finally, it contributes positively to product quality, as maintaining the ideal temperature for the production conditions contributes to the quality of the final product.
By combining clean energy production and energy efficiency measures, Dominó ceramics reduces its carbon footprint, contributes to a cleaner environment and increases competitiveness by reducing costs.
This is just one example, but it paints a good picture of the path that must be followed. Good decarbonization and energy transition strategies will contribute to competitive advantages in the way companies operate and position themselves in the market.