Doncasters aims for a greener future
Doncasters is greening up and wants to reduce its group-wide energy usage by 5% per year, over the next five years under the UK’s DEFRA target.
To help meet this target it has introduced an Energy Monitoring and Targeting System (EMaT) and has already seen a 14% reduction in energy usage at its Blaenavon site. EMaT is a combined hardware and software solution that uses advanced wireless technology to monitor energy around the site, providing quantitative data that examines each business process and piece of plant to highlight waste and identify potential energy savings.
Energy efficient
At its Storms Forge site, an energy efficiency audit has resulted in new energy-efficient equipment and lighting that has produced cost-savings, as well as a three-star energy efficiency rating that places the company in the top 15% of companies surveyed to date.
Doncasters believes innovation is the key to a greener future. For example it manufactures single-crystal turbine blades for engines. These blades are stronger than traditionally cast counterparts because growing them from a single crystal removes impurities from the process.
The blades are also more efficient as they can be used at higher temperatures and for a longer lifespan. The blades do not need to be replaced as often, but they also experience less vibration when in use, reducing power loss to the engine and consequently saving energy.
Doncasters says it is committed to identifying potential areas for improvements and investing in new technologies to help it meet the challenge and is already delivering tangible benefits across the group, which in turn deliver significant added value to its clients and the environment – a clear win-win for all involved.
Source: Flight Daily News
