Case studies
Case study calculators
To fulfil the second action of the EGDC declaration[1], the EGDC EP Pilot Project will develop methodologies for the assessment of the net environmental impact of 18 selected digital solutions (case studies). The case studies cover six different sectors (Energy/Power, Transport, Construction/Buildings, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Smart Cities), identified as priority areas.
The aim of the case study calculators is to assess the net environmental impact of the selected solutions.
Three sets of case studies were selected among use cases submitted by Coalition members and other EGDC stakeholders. These Case Studies will help to further refine the iterative development of the net carbon impact methodology with real-life use cases.
The case studies were selected based on a selection process comprised of 3 successive steps:
Step 1: Pre-selection requirements – to ensure minimum requirements are met by the case study, namely:
- Enabling greenhouse gas (GHG) savings across other, non-ICT sectors
- Not cause any significant social or environmental harm
- The digital component of the solution/product must have a link to the GHG savings
- Meets minimum threshold of scoring criteria (i.e. above 50%)
Step 2: Case study categorisation – to ensure a broad range of case studies
All case study suggestions were categorised by sector, and whether they address one of the key issues of the identified priority sectors.
Overall, the aim will be to have at least 2 case studies for each priority sector and at least 1 case study that addresses a key issue of its sector.
Step 3: Scoring criteria – case studies were prioritised based on the following key criteria:
- Data Quality
- Likely magnitude of impact
- Application mechanism
- Access to partners (developers of solution, users of solution)
- Sector coverage
- Geographic coverage
First set of selected case studies
Transport
Ericsson: Optimisation of port processes
This solution uses 5G technologies to enhance the exchange of real-time information among actors in a port’s terminal process (in this case Port of Livorno in Italy). This activity can lead to a reduction in movements of cargo handling, significantly optimizing the process overall and lowering fuel consumption. The Port of Livorno case was originally developed in collaboration between the Port of Livorno, Ericsson, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) and the National Inter-University CNIT as part of the EU H2020 project Corealis
Construction / Building
Schneider Electric High-Performance Building Management System
This solution automates management processes to enable emissions savings from energy reduction in non-residential buildings.
Second set of selected case studies
Construction/Buildings
Inteligg – c-BEMS
c-BEMS is a cloud-based SaaS (software-as-a-service) tool for the Building energy management system (BEMS) that achieves high energy savings for any kind of buildings through building automation technologies by implementing remote control of multi-zonal heating/cooling and lighting systems via Wi-Fi connected sensors in a unique IoT platform by employing AI algorithms and Model Predictive Control to automate the energy/lighting consumption behavior detection, thermal modelling of the building, energy demand prediction and optimization.
Transport
AddSecure – Logic TMS
Logic TMS is a transport management system offered as an end-to-end solution for carriers. Logic TMS brings the entire order management process to a modern cloud-based platform, providing real-time control and insights that help optimize every stage of the transport process, including fleet and fuel utilization and order management. The AI-enabled AutoPlanner tool help calculate best route combination, highlighting associated fuel and cost savings
Agriculture
Telia - Ekobot
Ekobot is an autonomous, electric field robot for mechanical weed control, which is connected to Telia’s 5G network. It allows for efficient and environmentally conscious farming. Ekobot can identify and mechanically remove weeds using advanced camera sensors and AI. It enables reductions in the use of chemicals on the field for healthier crops, soil, and produce.
Smart cities
Nokia - Integrated Operations Center (IOC) for Nicosia Municipality Smart City (Cyprus)
The Integrated Operations Center platform is a digital enablement platform that increases productivity, efficiency and growth through agile introduction and largely automated utilization of digital operational technology assets and capabilities. It is part of the Smart City project of the Nicosia municipality in Cyprus in cooperation with Cyta, where among other operations, it is also used to provide information on waste bin fillings and traffic information using video analytics to reduce overall transport emissions and pollution levels. The main objective of Smart Nicosia project is the development and use of new technological means that will improve the management and functionality of the urban environment in the city of Nicosia.
Agriculture
Atea - GlobeTrack
GlobeTrack by Atea is a blockchain solution that tracks fish stock transport across cold-chain stages from Norway to a municipal district in Sweden. This tracking technology monitors food stock data metrics such as temperature, location during transport etc. to enable reduced fish stock wastage, more efficient and sustainable value chains and to improve food quality and traceability for customers.
Third set of selected case studies
Energy/Power
Telefónica/Red Eléctrica de España - Dynamic Line Rating Platform
The Dynamic Line Rating Platform is based on the use of dynamic line rating system that enables Electric System Operators to operate transmission lines using real time data and forecasts. The system encompasses conductor sensors and local weather stations, IoT communications, a cloud platform and an algorithm that computes the real time thermal rating and the forecasting. With this system, the System Operator can make use of the idle capacity that already exists in the lines, increasing the capacity of the network to integrate renewable energy into the power system. The deployment of the DLR system is much easier and faster than other projects intended at uprating the transmission lines. It avoids adverse environmental impacts as the manufacture of steel structures, the use of big cranes and the corresponding emissions.
Energy/Power
Telefónica/Red Eléctrica de España - Platea Renewable
Platea Renewable is an integrated renewable energy and energy management solution that supports the supply of renewable power for auxiliary services at substation level. The hybrid renewable generation system (comprised of solar PV and battery storage modules) acts as an alternative power supply in periods without normal power supply from medium voltage lines to displace the use of diesel generators, where its energy management system controls the real-time demand loading of the different modules. The solution is deployed in remote substation locations, where Telefonica provides the wireless connectivity to enable its optimised functionality. The solution’s net impact is to drive greater penetration of renewable electricity into substation operations and reduce associated GHG emissions within the power sector.
Transport
University of Valencia – PREDRI Solution
PREDRI is a fleet optimisation solution that leverages on-board monitoring with Artificial Intelligence to optimise routes and encourage efficient and safe driving. Continuous reporting of mechanical parameters helps to anticipate failures and prevent high damage, ultimately extending the life of various mechanical parts. As a result, PREDRI both increases fuel efficiency, and reduces the need to replace exhaustive spare parts.
Energy/Power
IBM – Flex Platform
The IBM Flex Platform is a solution that can help governments, municipalities and corporations, through the use of emerging technologies such as IoT and AI, to connect and aggregate their demand-side flexibility across a large fleet of commercial buildings, heat pumps and electric vehicles (EV) charging stations
Manufacturing
Dassault Systèmes - DELMIA Apriso Solution
The DELMIA-Apriso solution is a Manufacturing Operations Management tool which helps manufacturers transform global production lines by virtually modelling factory floor operations and live data transfer. This solution enables carbon savings from reduced energy consumption and reduced scrap waste achieved through the optimisation of manufacturing processes.