Report on Volvo Penta and e-power Partnership for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions

Introduction: Aligning Industrial Innovation with Global Sustainability Goals

A strategic partnership has been formed between Volvo Penta, a leading provider of marine and industrial power solutions, and energy solutions specialist e-power. The collaboration focuses on the development and deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative leverages Volvo Penta’s advanced battery technology to create scalable, mobile energy solutions for industrial applications, with a primary focus on the construction rental market, thereby advancing SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

This initiative exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by uniting three industry leaders with a shared commitment to sustainability:

1. Volvo Penta: A division of the Volvo Group, providing the core BESS subsystem technology as part of its broader commitment to fossil-free power solutions.
2. e-power: A Belgian power solutions provider responsible for integrating Volvo Penta’s technology into complete, market-ready BESS units.
3. Boels Rentals: A major European construction rental company and the initial client for the BESS units, driving the demand for sustainable and efficient power on worksites.

This long-standing relationship is now evolving to meet the growing demand for electrification, transitioning from traditional engine-based generators to clean energy storage systems.

Technological Advancements for Clean Energy and Infrastructure (SDG 7 & SDG 9)

The BESS technology developed through this partnership is a significant innovation for resilient and sustainable infrastructure. It is designed to provide clean, reliable, and portable power, reducing dependency on grid electricity and fossil fuels.

Key Components and Features of the BESS Subsystem:

• Battery packs with high energy density
• Advanced Battery Management System (BMS)
• DC/DC converters for efficient power transfer
• Integrated thermal management system

Contributions to Sustainable Development:

• Silent Operation: Reduces noise pollution, contributing to more sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).
• Low-Emissions: Provides zero-emission power at the point of use, directly supporting climate action (SDG 13).
• Compact and Mobile: The transport-friendly design is optimized for rental operations, ensuring efficient resource use.
• Scalable and Adaptable: The integration-ready architecture allows OEMs like e-power to customize systems for diverse customer needs, fostering industrial innovation (SDG 9).

Promoting Responsible Production and Climate Action (SDG 12 & SDG 13)

The deployment of these BESS units marks a pivotal shift towards more responsible consumption and production patterns (SDG 12) within the construction and industrial sectors. By offering a viable alternative to traditional diesel generators, the partnership helps clients like Boels Rentals reduce their operational carbon footprint. This initiative is part of Volvo Penta’s wider strategy for climate action (SDG 13), which also includes the use of hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) in its diesel engines, reducing well-to-wheel emissions by up to 90%. The BESS technology represents the next step in the company’s dedication to providing entirely fossil-free power solutions for heavy-duty applications, accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article focuses on the development and deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and the use of hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel. These initiatives by Volvo Penta are aimed at providing “sustainable power solutions,” “fossil-free power solutions,” and “clean, silent, and mobile energy,” which directly aligns with the goal of ensuring access to clean energy.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The collaboration between Volvo Penta and e-power to create “new and innovative sustainable power solutions” like scalable BESS for industrial applications (e.g., construction rentals) represents an advancement in industrial innovation. This involves upgrading infrastructure to be more sustainable and efficient, as seen in the shift towards battery-electric systems for heavy-duty applications.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The BESS units are designed to provide “silent, low-emissions” energy for applications like construction sites. By replacing traditional noisy and polluting generators, this technology helps reduce the adverse environmental impact of industrial activities in urban and community settings, specifically addressing air and noise pollution.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article highlights a shift in production patterns within the industrial power sector. Volvo Penta’s commitment to “fossil-free power solutions,” making all its diesel engines compatible with HVO (a renewable fuel), and developing BESS promotes more sustainable production and consumption of energy in industrial processes.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The core theme of the article is the reduction of emissions to create a “cleaner, more sustainable future.” The use of HVO, which reduces “well-to-wheel emissions by up to 90%,” and the deployment of zero-emission BESS are direct actions to combat climate change by moving away from fossil fuels in the marine and industrial sectors.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is centered around a “strategic partnership” between Volvo Penta, e-power, and Boels Rentals. This collaboration between a manufacturer, a power solutions provider, and an end-user demonstrates a private-sector partnership aimed at developing and deploying sustainable technology to achieve common sustainability goals.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

   The article supports this target through Volvo Penta’s initiative to make all its diesel engines run on hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable fuel. Furthermore, the BESS can store energy, facilitating the use of renewable power sources in off-grid or mobile applications like construction sites.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.

   The development of BESS for construction and other industrial applications is a direct example of creating clean technology to retrofit industries. The article states this marks an “overall shift in rental power systems” towards a “cleaner, more sustainable future across all industries.”

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.

   The article mentions that the BESS meets a growing demand for “silent, low-emissions” energy solutions. Deploying these systems in construction, often located in urban areas, directly addresses the reduction of air and noise pollution, contributing to a better urban environment.

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   While the article focuses on corporate strategy, Volvo Penta’s “dedication to fossil-free power solutions” and its shift to cleaner technologies reflect the integration of climate action into its core business strategy, which is essential for achieving broader climate goals.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

   The article explicitly details a “strategic partnership” and “long-standing partnership” between three private companies: Volvo Penta, e-power, and Boels Rentals. This collaboration to develop and deploy sustainable energy solutions is a clear example of a partnership for the goals.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

1. Implied Indicator for Target 7.2: The share of renewable fuel in the energy consumption of industrial engines.

   The article states that all Volvo Penta diesel engines can run on HVO, which reduces emissions by “up to 90%.” The adoption rate of HVO fuel in these engines can serve as a measure of progress.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

1. Implied Indicator for Target 9.4: The rate of adoption of clean technologies in industrial sectors.

   The deployment of the new BESS units by rental companies like Boels for its construction clients can be tracked as an indicator of the adoption of sustainable technology in the industry.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Implied Indicator for Target 11.6: Reduction in emission levels from industrial activities.

   The article describes the BESS as a “low-emissions” solution. Measuring the reduction in emissions (like CO2, NOx, and particulate matter) and noise at construction sites that switch from traditional generators to BESS would be a direct indicator.

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Mentioned Indicator for Target 13.2: Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

   The article explicitly mentions that using HVO leads to a reduction in “well-to-wheel emissions by up to 90%.” This percentage is a direct indicator of emission reduction from this specific climate action.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Mentioned Indicator for Target 17.17: Number and type of multi-stakeholder partnerships.

   The article identifies a specific private-private partnership between Volvo Penta, e-power, and Boels Rentals. The existence and successful implementation of this collaboration serve as a qualitative indicator of progress.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: electrek.co