Reducing consumption

At BIRN , we want to show responsibility by minimising our negative impact on the environment. We are therefore working proactively to reduce our energy consumption and increase our recycling of natural resources and surplus heat, and we are investigating how we can contribute positively to our surroundings. 

As a result of energy-intensive processes at high temperatures and large consumption of raw materials, the world’s iron and steel production accounts for a large share of global emissions of greenhouse gases. As one of the largest foundry groups in Northern Europe, and thus an emitter of greenhouse gases, we are committed to continuing our work to reduce emissions connected with our operations and to share our results with stakeholders.

Mapping of carbon emissions

In 2022, BIRN has partnered up with ReFlow. The purpose of this collaboration is to map carbon emissions from our processes and products. The collaboration is part of the sustainable strategy for the entire BIRN Group and will help set even more ambitious and realistic goals in the future.

We have achieved our goal of establishing comparable and in many places automated data collection, so we have an overview of how our carbon emissions are distributed in the three different scopes.

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CO2 equivalent emissions
The chart shows the percentage distribution of CO2 equivalent emissions from BIRN in Holstebro in 2022.

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Energy consumption

Optimising our energy consumption is one of the areas in which we can actively reduce our climate footprint. This applies especially to the electricity we use for melting, hot holding, casting and treatment of cast iron.

Smeltning

Minimize climate footprint with renewed data insights

In collaboration with Fellowmind, Inuatek and University of Southern Denmark, BIRN has initiated a large-scale project on collection of energy and process data from melting furnaces, machinery and other production equipment. The purpose is to acquire better data insight, which can lead to decisions that can significantly minimise energy consumption and climate footprint.

Read the article (Danish)
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New AI technology reduces energy consumption

BIRN has recently completed an AI-project in cooperation with pour-tech AB to optimize dosing of molten iron from casting machines into molds. The project aims to reduce energy consumption and has been such a success that BIRN is now planning to scale the technology to almost all the foundry's pouring units.

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BIRN tests power regulation in pilot project

BIRN has entered a partnership with IBM and Energi Danmark to regulate our foundry’s electricity consumption. The collaboration will initially consist of a pilot project to relieve the grid and thus ensure a better balance.

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Natural gas consumption

Every year, BIRN casts about 45,000 tonnes of cast iron and accounts for the vast majority of our natural gas consumption in BIRN Group.
Our goal is to become independent of fossil fuels by 2040. We have made investments in alternative forms of energy to this end, and we have a focus in all factories within the BIRN Group on increasing the share of renewable energy in our energy mix.

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Surface treatment plant markedly reduces natural gas consumption

Since 2021 BIRN has been treating components in a new surface treatment centre where new technology makes it possible to coat castings with a water-based ED paint, rather than the solvent-based paints used previously.

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BIRN reduces natural gas consumption by 25% using heat recovery

BIRN aims to reduce its natural gas  consumption by around 25 per cent by 2024. The reason is the recirculation from two new heat recovery plants that utilize the excess heat from parts of BIRN's production to heat the rest of the company.

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Circular business model

The BIRN Group’s business model is based on a circular economy mindset. For us, it has long been common sense to consider how we use and consume the planet’s resources.

 
 
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Your certified partner!

At BIRN, we are constantly setting new goals for using resources more efficiently in our processes, including by minimising waste and improving our energy efficiency. 

Read more about our certifications

Sustainability

ESG - Environment, Social and Governance

The BIRN Group will be covered by the new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive from 2026. However, we are already documenting and mapping how we work with sustainability throughout the group.

Read more here

Contact

Sustainability is an important driver in ensuring the future success of our business. Do you want to know how we work with sustainability? 

Emil Husted Brodersen, Group Sustainability Manager 

Let's talk