PPG partnered with Grastim to increase the energy efficiency of its automotive paints and coatings manufacturing site.
PPG has recently announced the introduction of a high-efficiency power-generation facility at its automotive paints and coatings manufacturing site in Quattordio (Italy).
By combining cooling, heating and power, the facility can operate on a combination of natural gas and 5% hydrogen, so it is expected to reduce energy costs by 13% and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 10% annually. PPG can also increase to 20% hydrogen with minimal investment and up to 60% with further modifications. The new power plant will operate with an overall estimated efficiency of approximately 75%.
The $2.8 million (2.7 million euro) project is part of a partnership between PPG and Grastim, a developer of high-efficiency energy-generation solutions that include trigeneration and cogeneration. Under the power purchasing agreement, Grastim is responsible for the financing, authorisation, construction and operation of the power-generation plant and will operate it for seven years.
"With the skyrocketing cost of energy, it is essential to draw on any resource to reduce production costs and make plants more efficient. The use of high-efficiency energy production solutions provides not only an economic benefit for our customers but also a sustainability advantage,” stated Baldo Pavolini, the technical director Grastim.
"PPG is committed to furthering our sustainability efforts and reducing our carbon emissions, and a key part of that is reducing our energy use. Our partnership with Grastim will help to further our efforts and hopefully serve as a blueprint to implementation of similar systems globally,” also added Silvia Ceratto, the engineering and maintenance manager for the Quattordio site of PPG.