PrintDue to the overall importance of manufacturing to the US economy, the federal government devotes a significant amount of resources toward ensuring the strength of the sector but also toward continued improvement of its energy efficiency and use of clean energy (through incentives, tax credits, grants, etc.). Importantly though, manufactured components are needed to build wind turbines, solar panels, battery storage devices, variable speed motors and other finished products that collectively contribute to the energy transition. Using lighter materials and recycled materials in the manufacturing process also means final products that are themselves potentially more energy efficient and sustainable from a resource standpoint. Thus, as the US and other countries incentivize the development of the products and technologies that result in more renewables and more energy efficient products, the efficiency and sustainability of the manufacturing process itself can convey multiple co-benefits to society.
Required Reading
This US Department of Energy document shares “Energy-Saving Opportunities for Manufacturing Enterprises.”
Reading Guiding Questions:
- Compare and contrast energy efficiency approaches of industrial facilities to commercial and residential facilities. Are the same or different approaches used?
- Considering the size and scale of the impact as well as potential benefit to the facility, industrial energy efficiency programs seem like laudable public policy goals. Are they or should the focus be more on residential, or commercial?
- How can we ensure even small and medium sized manufacturers have access to these programs and funding?
Required Video
What might the future state of manufacturing look like with continued improvements in energy use? In the video below, the US Department of Energy outlines some of the benefits to the economy and the energy transition of clean manufacturing techniques. Importantly, this video drives home the point that cleaner manufacturing processes improve energy efficiency and sustainability, but also new materials and methods used in the process itself result in manufactured components that improve the overall sustainability of many types of final products. Lastly, increased efficiency, productivity and sustainability of the industrial sector can significantly enhance the overall competitiveness of US manufacturing.
Video- Energy 101: Clean Energy Manufacturing (4:23)
Intro
Most of us have a basic understanding of manufacturing. It's how we convert raw materials, components, and parts into finished goods that meet our essential needs and make our lives easier. But what about clean energy manufacturing? Think of it as taking manufacturing to the next level.
Clean Energy Manufacturing
Some clean energy manufacturers use innovative technologies to improve manufacturing products or processes by reducing energy use in waste. Others use cutting-edge advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing to save time and energy or to build other clean energy technologies like wind turbines and solar panels. Clean energy and advanced manufacturing have the potential to boost the US manufacturing industry and open pathways to increased American competitiveness.
Advanced Composites
So, what does clean energy manufacturing look like? Well, one example is advanced fiber reinforced polymer composites. These innovative materials combine strong fibers with tough plastics so that the end product is stronger but lighter than steel. American manufacturers already use advanced composites and products such as aircraft and satellites, but as manufacturing processes for making advanced composites become faster and more efficient. Lower costs will unleash these materials and other industries - including clean energy industries. For example, advanced composites could help manufacturers make lightweight vehicles with record-breaking fuel economy. Lighter and longer wind turbine blades and strong high-pressure tanks for natural gas fueled cars.
Advanced Battery Technology
Let's look at their potential benefits for vehicles. Advanced composites could reduce the weight of a vehicle's body and chassis by as much as 50 percent and improve fuel efficiency by about 25 percent without compromising performance or safety. This could help save thousands in fuel costs over the lifetime of an average vehicle. Another example of clean energy manufacturing is advanced battery technology for plug-in electric vehicles. Most plug-in electric vehicles today use lithium-ion batteries, which already offer an excellent power-to-weight ratio, high-energy efficiency, and long life. But through advanced manufacturing, new advancements in lithium-ion battery production has led to significant cost reductions. This makes for cheaper batteries and more plug-in electric vehicles on the streets.
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing means more than just making high-tech products. It also includes using new leading-edge machines and processes to streamline productivity, saving time, energy and money. One example is 3D printing or additive manufacturing. With this breakthrough process, product development no longer begins on a draftsman table, instead additive manufacturing creates 3D objects directly from a computer model reducing wasted materials and saving energy. So how does it work? 3D printing produces an object from scratch by adding material and successive layers, similar to how an inkjet printer deposits tiny dots of ink to make a 2D image. 3D printers can create nearly any object imaginable by depositing materials right where they are needed. This fast-developing new technique will likely make a huge impact in manufacturing as it gives industry new design flexibility, reduces energy use, and shortens time to market. A variety of industries are exploring 3D printing, including clean energy, automotive, electronics, aviation, pharmaceuticals, and food. So, as you can see, clean energy manufacturing is changing the way we do business. From the kinds of products we build to the ways we build them, and it's making America more competitive. Clean energy manufacturing, recharging and revolutionizing American manufacturing.