Consolis Parma invests in energy optimisation for precast concrete production

Heavy industry can also have light emissions. It is the driving idea behind the business of Consolis Parma, a manufacturer of precast concrete elements. Parma and LeaseGreen have agreed on a partnership to develop the energy efficiency of thirteen factories in the long term.

“First, we will take over the monitoring and remote management of energy flows in the factories. Using monthly data, we will get an accurate snapshot of the electricity and heat consumption in the different buildings. But that’s just the beginning. Once we have a clearer picture, we can start planning actual investments in energy efficiency,” says Hannu Rannanjärvi, Parma’s Development Manager.

The immediate target for the monitoring phase is an energy saving of 1.5% compared to 2021. This is achieved with the right adjustments.

Parma’s factories are located in different parts of Finland, the northernmost in Haukiputa and the southernmost in Tuusula. In addition to heating, energy is used in production processes. Some precast concrete elements are manufactured on heated substrates to accelerate the chemical reaction of concrete bonding. The heating of substrates, especially aggregates, is necessary in winter, when concrete particles may be frozen.

Factories are all different. The oldest are from the 1960s and the newest from 2009. The main sources of heat are district heating, pellets and wood chips.

“Future measures need to be tailored to each property individually. The only thing that all factories have in common is that energy is one of the biggest expenditure items,” says Rannanjärvi.

The phase-in period for the energy monitoring is in December-January. During this period, digital twins – virtual copies of the building services systems – will be modelled for those buildings where building automation is in place. Digital twins are used to monitor and manage data flows. The continuous monitoring service will start in February 2023.

“Parma has been doing good work on energy efficiency for a long time. We will take an in-depth look at the company’s operations, the improvements already made and the factory buildings. Based on this survey, we will find the most suitable options and together we will draw up plans for their implementation,” says Kalle Myllyaho, LeaseGreen’s Account Manager.

Parma has been part of the national energy efficiency pact since 2016. It aims to achieve energy savings of 3.3 GWh by 2025. Parma has already exceeded this target by 16%. For climate emissions, the target is a 5% reduction per year and halving emissions by 2035.

“Energy issues have been a constant focus for us and the savings have been achieved mainly through small practical measures. We want to further accelerate our energy saving measures. That’s where our partnership with LeaseGreen helps us,” says Parman Rannanjärvi.

Further information

Development Manager Hannu Rannanjärvi, Consolis Parma
0400 628 669, hannu.rannanjarvi@consolis.com

Kalle Myllyaho, Account Manager, LeaseGreen
040 511 6588, kalle.myllyaho@leasegreen.com