Q: What unmet needs does METRON identify in the energy sector? 

PG: The main need is visibility, which may sound simple, but is often lacking. Industrial users must understand more deeply their energy consumption. That is the baseline. Next is knowing the purpose of their energy consumption. Then, action follows: being able to take informed steps to optimize energy use. Many industrial players, even large ones, still lack this level of insight.

Q: What are the main doubts clients have before adopting Energy Management and Optimization (EMO) systems, especially in Mexico? 

RA: One of the key challenges in Mexico is the regulatory environment. We are currently going through a transition period. Nonetheless, with the latest reforms being promoted by the government, several opportunities are emerging.

Monitoring energy consumption not only improves efficiency but also tracks CO2 emissions, vital for the regionalization of supply chains. This is where energy efficiency becomes especially relevant, and METRON’s platform is well-suited for industrial operations, particularly for companies managing multiple sites.

PG: METRON has been active in Mexico for over five years, and we are now witnessing a clear shift in interest. This is the right moment. Regulatory pressure is starting to build, and this typically serves as a catalyst for industrial companies to adopt new technologies.

Having observed the Mexican market for several years, I can confidently say that we are now seeing meaningful changes, similar to what occurred in Europe some years ago. There is a growing recognition of the need for and value of these solutions.

Companies will need specialized solutions to manage their energy use, improve efficiency, track CO₂ emissions, and meet increasingly stringent reporting requirements. This becomes even more critical for multinational companies with operations across several sites and geographies. METRON addresses this complexity directly.

Q: What are the major areas of opportunity where you identify inefficiencies in industrial sectors, particularly among Mexican companies?

PG: To be candid, inefficiencies exist in nearly every area. We work with large-scale clients such as ArcelorMittal, a global leader in the steel industry. These companies consume millions of dollars in energy each year and, sometimes, each month.

When we present our data-driven solutions, the initial reaction is often skeptical. They tell us that they know their processes, and they are right… to an extent. However, the human brain can only process a limited number of variables simultaneously.

This is where data and visibility make a difference. By harnessing operational data in real time, we can analyze multiple correlated factors simultaneously, far beyond human cognitive limits. For example, reducing a furnace temperature by 2-5°C might seem minor, but the risk to production quality or stability can make engineers reluctant to act.

In one case, we analyzed all the reheating furnaces in a facility and identified a way to reduce energy consumption by 12% in that specific segment. For the client, this translated into annual savings of over US$800,000, an extraordinary gain, particularly for a company that had already been working on energy optimization for years.

Few companies go as deep into the process layer as we do. Our team is composed of digital technology experts, energy specialists, and process engineers. This combination, integrated through a data-driven platform, allows us to deliver insights with real impact, helping companies better understand, manage, and improve their energy performance in a meaningful and measurable way.

Q: Can energy management systems like yours serve as an alternative or complement to technologies such as batteries in addressing grid congestion and environmental challenges?

PG: Yes and no. These systems can certainly contribute to the solution. By reducing energy consumption, even by 5-10%, we are already easing the burden on the grid and the environment. That alone brings real value. However, the most powerful capability of our system lies in forecasting.

Increasingly, companies have access to multiple energy sources. This is already common in Europe and is gradually becoming more prevalent in other regions. The question then becomes: how should that energy be managed?

I have a client who operates exactly this way. He uses our platform daily to evaluate his energy mix, balancing solar, cogeneration, and grid supply. One of the strengths of our solution is that we train customers to use it independently. In this case, the client used the platform autonomously and was able to save approximately US$500,000 per month. These savings far exceeded the cost of the platform itself. Every day, with a few informed decisions, he was able to significantly reduce both energy consumption and operational costs.

This is where the real value of such systems lies: enabling smart, data-driven energy decisions that have a tangible impact on both sustainability and profitability.

Q: How can energy efficiency go beyond cost savings and generate broader benefits, particularly in terms of becoming a competitive advantage for industrial players?

PG: This is exactly the approach we take. We do not initiate the conversation by talking about cost savings. While savings are certainly important, they typically materialize at the end of the journey. What we emphasize from the start is the broader value that energy efficiency can deliver. One immediate benefit is a company-wide energy culture, which is critical.

We often refer to what we call the "TOP" factory: Transparency, Optimization, Productivity. Data visibility also allows companies to optimize production schedules based on energy prices, demand response incentives, or other external variables. This enables better decision-making across the board. Productivity improvements include demand-side management, energy arbitrage, and more. Once data is centralized, companies gain significant leverage when negotiating with energy providers. A CFO, for instance, can present detailed usage figures and push for better rates or conditions.

Of course, financial savings remain important. But for many clients, particularly those focused on sustainability, reducing CO2 emissions is just as critical, sometimes even more so. In fact, savings extend beyond money: they include time, environmental impact, and operational efficiency.

In Colombia, we worked with a paper manufacturer whose goal was to reduce steam consumption. Steam is used to dry paper that becomes wet during bleaching, which is done to whiten it. By analyzing the complete process, including how much bleach was used, paper break rates, steam production, and more, we found that two-thirds of the cost savings could be achieved by optimizing bleach usage, and only one-third from reducing steam.

The engineers already suspected they were using too much bleach but lacked the data to determine how much they could safely reduce. With our analysis, we gave them clear, actionable insights. As is often the case, they proceeded cautiously, reducing bleach usage incrementally. This cautious approach is understandable given the risks of production disruptions.

What is even more striking is the environmental impact. Steam was being generated from coal, and the improvements translated into a reduction of 14,000t/y of CO₂. That is a substantial result. In many regions, CO₂ reduction also has a financial dimension, either through carbon pricing, regulatory compliance, or certificate trading.

This question touches on the core of our work: energy efficiency is not only about saving money. It is about improving how companies operate, more intelligently, more sustainably, and more competitively.

We are now working with clients to calculate their real-time carbon footprint per product or batch, which can vary depending on factors like the energy mix at a given time, whether it is solar, hydro, or fossil-based. These fluctuations affect the emissions intensity of each production run.

This has become especially relevant in supply chains. Recently, a major luxury brand asked us to help decarbonize one of their suppliers. The company realized that a significant portion of its own emissions footprint was embedded in its supply chain. We worked with the supplier, which is a €400 million company with an established energy strategy, and still managed to reduce their gas consumption by 27% in a specific production area.

That is the kind of comprehensive impact energy intelligence can achieve, far beyond the savings on a balance sheet.

METRON provides energy management and optimization solutions designed to enhance energy efficiency and reduce the carbon impact on the pulp and paper, glass, iron and steel, food and beverage,  and electronics industries, among others. Its Energy Management and Optimization System (EMOS) enables businesses in the manufacturing, tertiary, and public sectors to lower energy consumption without affecting production levels or service quality.