Siemens Develops Cloud Tool for Accelerating Decarbonisation

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Siemens utilises Amazon Web Services to improve carbon assessments
Siemens unveils AI Decarbonisation Business Optimiser, leveraging AWS serverless architecture and US gov datasets to streamline facility carbon assessments

As companies worldwide face growing pressure to report and reduce their emissions, tools like cloud computing and AI are emerging as critical assets in the tech-driven approach to sustainability.

Technologies are helping companies reach sustainability initiatives by providing tools that accurately measure, analyse and optimise their resource consumption and emissions.

An example of this is, cloud platforms that offer scalable, energy-efficient infrastructure, while AI algorithms can process vast amounts of environmental data to identify areas for improvement and predict future trends. 

Meanwhile, in a move at the intersection of financial technology and environmental sustainability, Siemens Financial Services (SFS), a division of the German multinational technology conglomerate Siemens, has introduced a cloud-based tool aimed at simplifying the complex process of building decarbonisation.

The global cloud computing market has experienced rapid growth over the last few years, driven by digital transformation initiatives and the need for scalable, flexible IT infrastructure.

According to Gartner, worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to dramatically grow.

This acceleration in cloud adoption is partly fueled by sustainability concerns, as cloud services often offer more energy-efficient solutions compared to traditional on-premises data centres.

Embracing these sustainability concerts, Siemens cloud-based tool, The Decarbonisation Business Optimiser (DBO), represents a fusion of cloud computing, AI and big data analytics, designed to assist businesses in navigating the technical and financial aspects of reducing their carbon footprint. 

The tool is built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), employing serverless architecture to minimise its own carbon footprint.

Leveraging cloud technology for sustainability

The DBO utilises cloud computing to provide businesses with baseline carbon assessments and pathways to achieve net-zero emissions.

Anthony Casciano, President and CEO of Siemens Financial Services Americas, explains the tool's significance: "Companies, specifically those in the supply chain, are increasingly asked to report their carbon footprint to their customers — yet many do not know where to begin.

Anthony Casciano, President and CEO of Siemens Financial Services

“The DBO addresses these barriers by taking action and puts companies of all sizes and at all stages in a better position to create long-term value, accelerating participation in the transition to net-zero emissions.”

The use of serverless architecture, which allows developers to build and run applications without managing servers, automatically scaling resources based on demand while charging only for actual usage, is particularly noteworthy from a technological perspective.

This approach allows the DBO to operate only when needed, rather than running continuously.

According to Amazon, AWS infrastructure is estimated to be up to four times more efficient than on-premises infrastructure.

AWS is leading the global cloud market, ahead of Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud by providing developers and companies with the tools and services they need to build, customise and deploy powerful Gen AI applications. 

Impressively, when workloads are optimised on AWS, the carbon footprint associated can be reduced by up to 99%.

AI and data analytics at the core

The DBO's functionality is also underpinned by AI and advanced data analytics.

The tool incorporates verified datasets from the US Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

This integration of government data with AI-driven analysis allows the DBO to generate cost-effective decarbonisation scenarios for facilities based on minimal input data.

"As an initial tester, we found that the DBO tool is a great way to get started in estimating facility footprints”, Lee Evangelakos, Partner and ESG Pillar Leader at American Industrial Partners, says, who tested the tool and notes its effectiveness.

Lee Evangelakos, Partner and ESG Pillar Leader at American Industrial Partners (image credit: American Industrial Partners)

“The tool enables industrial businesses to think through the building blocks of their emissions profiles and how they could begin to take action towards decarbonisation”, he continues.

The DBO's AI capabilities extend to recommending optimal combinations of generation and storage technologies for a given site, such as thermal energy storage, battery storage and solar panels.

This level of analysis typically requires significant expertise and resources, which the DBO aims to make more accessible through its automated, AI-driven approach.

Roderick Jackson, Laboratory Program Manager for Building Technologies at NREL, emphasises the importance of such tools: "Trusted data sets coupled with credible modelling and analysis tools are vital in the complex decision-making process to achieve a clean energy future.

He continues: “NREL-developed tools are built to be leveraged in this way — including ComStock, REopt, and our Annual Technology Baseline framework. It's great to see that in practice."

This collaboration highlights the growing trend of integrating financial services with advanced technological solutions to address global challenges.

Veronika Bienert, CEO at SFS GmbH (image credit: Siemens)

Veronika Bienert, CEO at SFS GmbH, underscores this approach: "By working closely with Siemens businesses and our external partners across our key industries, our passionate team is able to accelerate innovation and competitiveness for our customers, providing tailored financing solutions that unlock sustainable growth."

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