ISOVER Industrial Efficiency Awards

Energy efficiency and the decarbonization of industry are essential axes of the European strategy for sustainable growth by 2030. At the same time, it is a question of strengthening the security of energy supply, at a time when the world population is growing and where urbanization is progressing.

The industrial sector is responsible for 33% of total energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.

While in industry, however, there are no mandatory regulations that limit energy losses, the 2030 objectives - and even less the carbon neutrality objective by 2050 - cannot be achieved without the contribution of the industry sector.

Here is a reminder of the main objectives for 2030:

·         Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990

·         42% of renewables on total final energy consumption, throughout the E.U.

·         39.6% improvement in energy efficiency

·         74% renewables in electricity generation

It is in this context that ISOVER Spain launched in 2019 a competition for students called “Industrial Efficiency Awards”.

ISOVER invites undergraduate and master's students in Industrial Engineering to meet real customer needs!

The aim of the ISOVER Industrial Efficiency Awards is to involve Industrial Engineering students in the study of a real project that leads them to apply the latest energy efficiency and decarbonization technologies and tools in the industry, in order to reduce energy costs as well as the environmental impact of the project.

Students get the opportunity to work on real cases, located in a specific site, adopting an interdisciplinary approach. They apply their knowledge and skills on a project that will actually be implemented - whether it is a new plant or the modification of an existing plant.

At the end, 3 titles are awarded to the most deserving participants.

If the proposals are attractive, cost-effective, and aligned in terms of energy efficiency and decarbonization targets, they might be implemented during the execution of the project.

After the success of the first edition in 2019, the Industrial Efficiency Awards are a now organized every 2 years, with growing interest.

This project is not only relevant for the students taking part, to develop their knowledge in the field, but it also makes students aware of the importance of insulation in saving energy and reducing CO₂ emissions.

And what’s more for us at ISOVER, it makes ourselves known to the engineers of tomorrow, and develops know-how around our products.

The 3^rd edition in 2023, improving a biomass plant

The subject of the 2023 competition was presented by the company ACCIONA, a multinational company dedicated to the development and management of infrastructure and renewable energy.

The assignment was to study a biomass power plant of 49.9 MW that will be installed in the autonomous community of Extremadura, in the city of Logrosán. The challenges to be met were to reduce energy consumption and cost, reduce environmental impact, improve the processes of the plant itself, detect new needs relating to the environment and design the corresponding responses.

Originally from Venezuela, Ernesto now works for ISOVER Spain as an industrial specifier. He participated as a candidate in the first edition of the ISOVER Industrial Efficiency Awards, which made him discover the world of insulation and the company!