Under the “double carbon” target strategy, the low-carbon transformation of China’s economy is imperative, and how to make digitalization, clean energy and technological innovation play a leading role in the “double carbon” process has become a proposition of The Times in front of the electrical industry.

Recently, Wu Xun, vice president and general manager of Eaton Electric Distribution system and Service Division in Asia Pacific region, accepted an interview with Xinhua News Agency’s “Smart · Zero Carbon” column, describing how Eaton, as a global intelligent power management company, achieves its own sustainable development through automation, digitalization and energy transformation to help enterprises improve production efficiency and quality in the process of practicing the “double carbon” goal.

Q: The key to green and low-carbon transition is to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. How can Eaton improve productivity and quality based on products and technologies related to automation, digitalization and energy transition?

A: Eaton has always been committed to sustainable development, emphasizing the close relationship between economic development and energy use. We actively promote electrification, digitalization and energy transformation, and carry out technological innovation around the main links of “power-transmission – change – distribution – use” to provide carbon neutral support for enterprises throughout the life cycle.

● Benchmarking infrastructure

In the past few years, Eaton has provided technical support for a full range of energy transition products for benchmarking projects such as offshore wind power and new energy bases at home and abroad, helping enterprises to maximize the efficiency of power generation per unit.

● Power from west to east

The project of “transmission of electricity from west to East” is a green electric artery in our country. In Qinghai – Henan, Baihetan – Jiangsu and other UHVDC power transmission projects specially built for clean energy consumption, Eaton has provided a large number of HVDC power capacitor products, which can help achieve the “14th Five-Year Plan” clean energy development goal by stabilizing the operation of the transmission system and reducing the power loss.

● Intelligent power distribution

On the power side, Eaton adopts the concept of “Everything as a Grid” and takes microgrid, clean energy and digital technology as the core to predict and optimize the energy use of users, and helps parks, data centers and enterprises to improve energy efficiency and achieve economic and green development through collaborative management of “source network load and storage” and intelligent power distribution technology.

Q: Eaton China has built a number of “green factories” through energy system upgrading. What achievements have these factories made in optimizing the energy structure and improving energy efficiency? How can Chinese factories strengthen Eaton’s intellectual manufacturing capabilities in China?

A: Eaton always believes that technological innovation is the key to achieve green transformation, we use digital and low-carbon “two-wheel drive”, actively build green factory and green product design, Eaton Changzhou Switchgear manufacturing Center and Cooper Pingdingshan Ring Cabinet manufacturing Center and other factories have won the “green factory” title. Recently, Pingdingshan Factory and Xi ‘an factory successfully selected the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology 2023 “green manufacturing List”.

In terms of smart manufacturing, Eaton has deployed nearly 30 Industry 4.0 model production lines in the Asia Pacific region. For example, Eaton Changzhou switchgear Manufacturing Center, which has just been awarded the “Eaton Industry 4.0 Digital Lighthouse Factory”, adopts a fully digital operation system to realize fully automated operations, assembly tracking, key material recording, process error prevention and other functions for the production of customized products, recording the intelligent manufacturing upgrade from automation to end-to-end digitalization of the whole value chain.

Q: Energy is a key breakthrough for enterprises to achieve green production and implement the goal of “carbon neutrality”. What are Eaton’s plans and initiatives to promote its own sustainable development?

A: Sustainability has always been at the heart of Eaton’s strategy, and since 2018, the company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 27%, equivalent to the emissions of nearly 60,000 fuel vehicles for a year. In 2022, 71% of Eaton’s annual net sales came from sustainability solutions. Since 2020, the company has invested $900 million in research and development of sustainable solutions. We have achieved 75% of our zero waste to landfill target and accelerated progress towards zero wastewater discharge.

In China, through the deployment of self-developed microgrid system and optical storage and charging integrated intelligent integrated energy management system in the manufacturing center, we effectively improve the utilization rate of clean energy and achieve the goal of carbon neutrality in the plant’s own operations. It is hoped that Eaton’s active exploration can provide some sustainable development reference for industrial enterprises in the aspect of comprehensive energy utilization on the user side.

Q: As the power grid enters a new era of digital and intelligent management, the industry’s demand for solutions is further upgraded. How does Eaton view the need for digital distribution network upgrade? What technology and product innovations have the company introduced based on this?

A: Due to the large number of distributed energy access, the future distribution network will face more complex network structure, operating conditions and operating environment, intelligence, low-carbon, digital will become the key direction of its development. Eaton Group has built a complete digital solution from hardware to software to services under the digital and energy transition layout. Recently, we have also launched a series of smart green distribution products, such as intelligent medium voltage switchgear, environmentally friendly fluorine-free gas ring cabinet and inflatable cabinet, and vigorously promote the lean management and operation and maintenance of distribution network equipment through BrightlayerTM digital technology.

In the face of the ever-changing application needs of the grid, Eaton will continue to update and develop future grid solutions to improve the efficiency, reliability and flexibility of the urban distribution network through cleaner power technology and digital technology.

Driven by the “double carbon” goal, carbon emission reduction and green development are the only way for the entire industry to achieve transformation and upgrading. Eaton will rely on electrification, digital technology and rich practical experience in energy transition, actively empower partners and users, jointly build a green ecology, and accelerate the realization of carbon neutrality and carbon peak vision.