Novartis Energy Excellence Awards 2006
Honoring exceptional contributions
For the third consecutive year, Novartis associates have demonstrated that important initiatives on energy efficiency and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction are being prepared and realized in all divisions and global regions of Novartis.
All 32 projects submitted to the 2006 Novartis Energy Excellence Awards (EEA) were very valuable proposals with a high potential for cost reduction, energy savings and emission reduction.
In total, the projects allow for more than USD 50 million net savings in the next five years, which represent approximately 5% of total global energy costs. While most projects allow savings in the use of electricity or other purchased energy, some actually help reduce the use of fossil fuels for on-site energy generation. Four projects use renewable energy sources as an alternative to conventional ones.
Rewarding best practice
The projects underwent a thorough review by the EEA Judge Panel, a group of eight highly experienced energy and environmental experts with diverse backgrounds. Winners were selected after a detailed evaluation process. Four of the panel's representatives come from internationally recognized organizations of academia, NGOs and Think Tanks, and four are representatives of Novartis Engineering or HSE functions.
In 2006, the EEA Judge Panel has honored those four projects with the highest project quality and value for Novartis with the following awards:
Innovation award: Sandoz Anti-Infectives Kundl (Austria)
Energy Minimized/Carbon Source Optimized (EMCO) Process
This project focuses on significantly improving the economics of the production of Penicillin V in the large-scale fermentation process at the Kundl plant, which strengthens the position of Sandoz compared to overseas competitors in today's price-driven buyer's market. The EMCO project is a clear example of increased energy efficiency being a major requirement for keeping the business profitable.
Renewable Energy Award: Sandoz Frankfurt (Germany)
Electricity from Mycelium Co-Fermentation
This project makes process waste a key ingredient in the energy and material optimization of the utility operation at the local industry park to which Sandoz Frankfurt belongs. Co-fermentation of mycelium waste allows the local utility provider to generate biogas from its industrial wastewater sludge, and use the gas to generate steam and electricity in a combined heat and power (CHP) unit. The project also fosters additional environmental benefits (waste reduction) and work place improvements (avoidance of smell).
Behavior-Based Energy Efficiency Award: Sandoz TechOps, FDF-Production, Kundl (Austria)
The energy saving program enacted at the Kundl FDF-Production is an excellent example of successful energy management, the application of good engineering practice, and the inclusion of behavioral aspects in its implementation. The program demonstrates that it is possible to continually save energy and improve the environment through creativity, innovative solutions and changed behavior, without, or with very little, investment.
Award for the Most Successful Site Energy Excellence Program: Animal Health, Wusi Farm Shanghai (China)
Energy Efficiency Improvement Program in Wusi Plant
In order to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions, Wusi Farm Plant replaced existing utilities (boilers, chillers and air compressors) with new technology between 2003 and 2005. The program is a broad-based and successful approach to resource efficiency and GHG emission reduction at the site over a period of several years. The most relevant improvement opportunities of the site's energy system were targeted first, followed later by smaller contributions and additional behavioral aspects.