Energy Efficiency the Basis for a Sustainable Future

The global energy transition has already begun but envisioning a truly sustainable future remains a difficult feat. While grand plans involving the reduction of emissions may be a bit abstract, energy efficiency expert Circutor knows that even the most abstract of blueprints have a good starting point: rational energy use.

“We need to meet the high standards set by the Paris Agreement, which translates to local standards too. This goes beyond political sentiment. It is about envisioning how human life will thrive on Earth in the far future,” Mónica Samudio, Country Managing Director for Mexico at Circutor, told MBN. But committing to an agreement is one thing; translating this to the right course of action is an entirely different issue. Fortunately, Circutor knows where to begin. The company’s end goal of “rational energy use” is focused on energy efficiency in all its forms.

As companies look for efficiency, cost savings become evident. However, Samudio knows that efficiency goes beyond those savings. A key example of this is the grid code, established by energy regulator CRE in 2016 and featuring all the administrative guidelines for the efficiency, quality, reliability, continuity, safety and sustainability of the national grid. If companies fail to comply with the code, they can expect substantial fines. “But compliance is a small price to pay to strengthen the backbone of the energy sector relative to system failures and their crucial implications for the country’s economic competitiveness,” emphasized Samudio.

Everyone’s influence on the stability of the grid might seem faint but it is actually rather direct, Rafael Valdez, the company’s Commercial Director in Mexico, told MBN. “For example, any kind of computer, a tool that we use literally everywhere, can really muddle harmonic currents and affect the grid. This kind of pollution does not discriminate. If your neighbor introduces it, you will suffer the consequences or vice versa.” Circutor offers a wide array of filters to fix the issue but Valdez stresses that a lack of awareness regarding the problem is preventing its solution. “There are important challenges to overcome in fixing the issue of energy efficiency. These depend on the industry, although there is a significant amount of overlap,” added Valdez.

Circutor has a strong track record in helping Mexico’s C&I leaders become more sustainable via rational energy use, all while generating significant savings in operational costs. The company’s work with Kellogg’s, where Circutor measured energy quality and its use at the Kellogg’s production facilities to correct the power factor, serves as a prime example. Other success stories for the company involve its work with General Motors (GM). With the latter, Circutor took on no small amount of risk itself by manufacturing heavily specialized equipment so GM could continue business as usual even before the commercial deal was fully signed. “We brought in a small army of staff along with specialized equipment to measure and analyze data at 40 points in GM’s manufacturing plant. This process would normally take weeks but we resolved it in a matter of days,” said Valdez. As a result of Circutor’s work, GM’s plant is an asset to the national grid, rather than a potential detriment, in full compliance with the grid code.

Besides its important work for Mexico’s industry, Circutor is also a key player in advancing Mexico’s switch to electric vehicles (EVs), considered to be a crucial element in the energy transition. “Close to 80 percent of Mexico’s EV charging stations come from Circutor,” Valdez said, including those that power the fleet of online marketplace giant Mercado Libre. With around 50 million km driven in EVs in the country, there is certainly room to grow. Circutor aims to be a part of this sustainable development. “Circutor is ready to help anyone willing to take the first step,” said Samudio.