Thai Union Group PCL has become the first food company – and the first Thailand-based company – to join EP100, a global initiative on smarter energy use led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy.
Thai Union is one of the world’s largest seafood companies, with operations spanning across 10 countries. The company is aiming to double its energy productivity by 2041 from a 2016 baseline, as part of its strategy to tackle climate change and reduce its impact on the world’s oceans.
Led by The Climate Group and delivered in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, EP100 brings together major companies committed to using energy more productively – resulting in higher economic output from every unit of energy they consume.
“We’ve all seen first-hand the impact climate change is having on the planet, from warmer temperatures, to more extreme weather events, to rising sea temperatures,” said Dr. Darian McBain, Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Thai Union.
“The world’s oceans are crucial to our business, but more importantly the impact of climate change on them will affect the livelihoods of millions of people. Through collaboration with The Climate Group on EP100, we believe that together we can drive positive outcomes for everyone.”
Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Thai Union to EP100. Using energy more productively is essential for addressing the global climate crisis, but progress has been far too slow. We need far more action on energy-saving efforts to slash emissions and benefit businesses.”
She added, “The Climate Group congratulates Thai Union on leading by example – we need others in the global food industry to step up and do more with less energy.”
Thai Union has also signed up the EP100 Cooling Challenge, joining six other global companies that have pledged to focus on cooling efficiencies to help reach their energy productivity goals.
As the world adapts to climate change impacts, and as emerging economies grow and develop, demand for cooling is rising at an alarming rate. Electricity demand for air conditioners alone is expected to more than triple by 2050 according to the International Energy Agency. Companies have an immediate opportunity to help reduce emissions by improving the energy efficiency of their cold chains and the cooling of their plants, server rooms, and stores. In addition, enhancing cooling efficiency can generate substantial financial savings and improve economic competitiveness.
To help Thai Union meet the objectives of the EP100 Cooling Challenge, The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), will conduct an energy audit at two Thai Union facilities and provide recommendations on improving cooling efficiency at the sites. The company will report annually on its progress towards EP100.
Launch of Cooling Checklist for EP100 companies
To support widescale corporation action on cooling, The Climate Group and The Alliance to Save Energy have launched the EP100 Cooling Checklist, a tool to help companies optimize energy efficiency across their operations. Companies can organize a survey in any facility and use the checklist to identify energy efficient measures (EEMs) listing the potential financial and energy savings and the approximate level of investment required. These range from no/low-cost maintenance and adjustments (e.g., to controls and setpoints) to investment-grade retrofits (e.g., for chilled water systems, temperature controls, or refrigerant replacements).
Download the Cooling Checklist here.
