ABB’s production hub in Xiamen has become a flagship site for sustainable manufacturing and is paving the way to a clean energy future in China. Particularly, with its scalable blueprint for groundbreaking new energy monitoring systems. In addition, it combines on-site renewable energy generation and storage for impressive emission and cost reductions.

China is aiming to hit peak emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060. To make this net zero energy transition a reality, collaboration with the country’s manufacturing sector is essential. Moreover, interventions, like those at ABB’s Xiamen site, are essential to support these targets, as the country’s manufacturing sector currently makes up over 28 percent of total global manufacturing output and a significant amount of the emissions.

The Xiamen site – which covers 425,000 m² and employs over 3,000 people. Most importantly, it has reduced its CO² equivalent (CO²e) emissions by 13,400 tons as part of ABB’s global Mission to Zero program. This year, Xiamen will be opening its doors to customers and other manufacturers in China to showcase how its smart digital technology has been applied to decarbonize and reduce scope 2 (indirect from electricity) emissions, and help them achieve the same results.

State-of-the-Art Production Lines

With the installation of 100,000m² of rooftop solar panels, the manufacturing hub in Xiamen generates enough solar energy to cover 50 percent of the site’s annual electricity consumption. Moreover, the site also has state-of-the-art production lines for low and medium voltage switchgear and circuit breakers.

A smart energy management system optimizes this newly fitted 12.3 MWp solar energy system and proactively balances supply and demand. Furthermore, the intelligent solution forecasts future power production of the rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels, considering weather conditions to anticipate how much electricity will be generated.

ABB Ability Electrification Monitoring and Control monitors and manages ABB Xiamen’s complex energy system. This ‘central intelligence’ node of the energy ecosystem monitors and manages loads, battery storage and EV charging and optimizes energy management across the facility. The production hub’s e-Storage eHouse solutions, including power and control equipment, enable the continuous data flow and communication with the ZEE600 control system.

Xiamen’s power system also interacts with State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)’s electricity grid to provide demand-side response services when required.

The connection of the different PV fields, batteries, factory loads, and EV chargers has been made possible with modular power solutions. This makes ABB Xiamen Hub’s solution easy to replicate in other sites, reducing installation time and project complexity. These packaged solutions and all the low and medium voltage devices included are manufactured by ABB in China.

Low Carbon Production Site

James Zhao, senior vice president of ABB China said: “The scale and pace of our Xiamen carbon reduction journey is our most powerful example of how manufacturers of any size can create low carbon production sites – and quickly. By implementing ABB technology that is widely available, we are showing how to accelerate the journey to decarbonization. Our world-class demonstration site will show our customers and partners how low carbon ambitions can be achieved today through intelligent technology.”

ABB Xiamen products and solutions are installed in many key infrastructure projects in China and beyond, including Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as well as data centers for leading internet companies.

The ABB Xiamen hub joins ABB sites in China, Italy, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands which are also on the journey to achieve carbon neutrality.