ABB to help CERN boost energy efficiency of critical cooling systems

CERN, one of the world’s leading particle physics research institutes, and ABB have entered into a partnership to identify how to improve the energy efficiency of cooling and ventilation systems used for lab experiments at its site close to Geneva, Switzerland. The partnership will also act as a blueprint for other energy-intensive research institutions that would like to reduce their environmental footprint and improve reliability.

The non-commercial project will demonstrate how data insight delivered by the ABB Ability Digital Powertrain and service expertise can be applied to make better decisions about saving energy and increasing reliability at large-scale research facilities. Currently, motors used to power pumps, fans, compressors, and cooling towers account for 20% of CERN’s total energy consumption, or approximately 260 gigawatt hours. 

The partnership will enable the collection off digital performance data from hundreds of industrial electric motors and applications. Analysis by ABB’s experts will identify precisely where and how much energy can be saved by adjusting schedules and loads or upgrading to high-efficiency motors and variable speed drives (VSDs). Typically, this approach can yield 15% or more in energy savings.