In the fight for climate change, Siemens Financial Services has launched Decarbonization Business Optimizer, or DBO, which is a cloud-based solution aimed at making it easier for almost any US-based company to start its complex journey to net zero.
It assists the company in overcoming the first hurdle of decarbonization by offering a bespoke approach to reducing the carbon footprint of commercial and industrial facilities.
Unlocking Data Intensity
The DBO™ relies on authentic data from the U.S. Government’s key agencies, such as the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In this integration, the tool can offer the accurate baseline carbon assessments based on the information that the user may provide, that is, size, type, or location of the facility. Thus, by scoping the specific scenario, the DBO will generate context-specific decarbonization strategies relevant to unique operational contexts of individual facilities but actionable in practice.
Companies, especially in supply chain, are increasingly being called upon to report their carbon footprint to customers yet are often unsure where to begin, said Anthony Casciano, president and CEO, Siemens Financial Services, Inc. “The DBO brings into action, helping all types and stages of companies to be better positioned to create long-term value.”
Data-Driven Decisions for Flexibility
Unique to the DBO™ is its ability to allow businesses to test out various clean energy technologies, including options like solar panels, thermal energy storage, and battery storage-all tailored to the specific needs of each user. The companies can hone their scenarios to include the realities of certain technologies, vulnerability to grid disruptions, budget considerations, and so much more, so they don’t just end up with an effective decarbonization plan, but bring it up economically.
Another benefit of the DBO™ tool is to obtain a summary of estimated ROI for different strategies, from which companies can base more informed decisions. Lee Evangelakos, the first tester coming from American Industrial Partners elaborated: “Sometimes a lack of data may deter companies from embarking on a sustainability strategy. The DBO™ tool is one fantastic way to get started in estimating facility footprints.”
Powered by AWS for Sustainability
The DBO ^{TM} is in collaboration with Siemens Technology and uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) serverless architecture. This setup allows the tool to run only when it needs to, minimizing its carbon footprint. A new study released by AWS touts that optimized cloud workloads can abate as much as 99 per cent of carbon emissions compared to on-premises tradition solutions. This strategy meets the sustainability goals and maximizes operational efficiency.
“Trusted data sets paired with credible modeling and analysis tools are critical in the highly complex decision-making process toward a clean energy future,” said Roderick Jackson, Laboratory Program Manager for Building Technologies at NREL. “It’s terrific to see tools like DBO™ leveraging NREL’s resources, including ComStock™ and REopt®.”
Features for the Future
Looking forward, Siemens has some additional features lined up in the upgrade pipeline for the DBO™, including a vehicle fleet analyzer that will help facilitate electrification of fleets and climate resiliency, which enables an assessment of how well a facility can withstand extreme weather-related events. These are all part of an overall strategy to keep this tool very relevant and effective for organizations in this new landscape in sustainability.
At AWS, we are committed to helping our customers build a more sustainable future, says Chris Walker, Director of Sustainability for AWS. “This is a shared goal we have with Siemens and all of our customers.”
Accessibility and Implementation
DBO™ is available for free to US users through the open digital platform Siemens Xcelerator and accelerates transformation. The data-driven decarbonization strategies then can be leveraged more broadly by organizations, all leading ultimately to a culture of sustainability and responsibility within businesses.
Online: www.dbo.siemens.com : More information on the DBO™ and support from Siemens Smart Infrastructure for companies’ sustainability strategy.
One such step through which Siemens’ DBO™ can take the company toward a net-zero goal is by bringing together trusted data and innovative technology in a powerful tool to inform decisions by the organization about their decarbonization strategy. With ever more becoming accustomed and utilizing the tool, the probability of effectiveness in carbon reductions and sustainability increases since it sets a strong precedence for what the future of climate action in industry will be.