Introduction: Driving Environmental and Social Benefits with Nokia’s Sustainability Calculator
Industries are among the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are responsible for 25% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Sectors such as chemical manufacturing, maritime shipping, metals and mining face increasing pressure to achieve ambitious sustainability goals while maintaining operational efficiency.
The Nokia Private Wireless Sustainability Calculator is a powerful tool that helps industrial enterprises evaluate the environmental and social impact of transitioning from Wi-Fi-only setups to adding high-performance private wireless networks to their connectivity layer. Specifically designed for Industry 4.0 use cases, the calculator measures the benefits of four new Industry 4.0 applications powered by private wireless networks and mission-critical industrial edge solutions.
It enables enterprises to estimate emissions, worker safety incidents overall societal impact, providing actionable insights that guide sustainable and efficient operations. By highlighting the transformative potential of digitalization, the tool underscores the pivotal role of private wireless networks in driving sustainability.
The Challenges of Industrial Sustainability
Industrial sectors face mounting pressure to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency. Each industry has unique challenges:
- Global Impact of Industry: 25% of energy-related CO2 emissions stem from industry.
- Chemical Manufacturing: The largest industrial energy consumer must reduce emissions by 15% by 2030 to meet Net Zero targets by 2050.
- Maritime Shipping: Emissions have risen 5% since 2022, requiring a 15% reduction by 2030 to stay on track.
- Metals and Mining: Responsible for 4-7% of global GHG emissions, this sector also faces critical sustainability challenges.
(Sources: International Energy Agenda and GlobalData)
Addressing these challenges requires innovative technologies that enable industries to balance sustainability with operational performance.
Features of Nokia’s Sustainability Calculator
The Nokia Private Wireless Sustainability Calculator is a robust tool designed to help industries estimate and improve their environmental and social impact. Its key features include:
- Comprehensive Impact Analysis:The calculator uses handprint and footprint metrics to provide a holistic view of sustainability. It highlights the net positive impact of private wireless and Industry 4.0 use cases on GHG emissions, worker safety, and overall cost to society and the economy.
- Actionable Use Cases: By comparing Wi-Fi-only environments with private wireless networks and industrial edge, the tool evaluates the sustainability benefits across four critical Industry 4.0 applications: Environmental Monitoring: Tracks emissions, pollutants and other aspects in real-time. Critical Worker Communications: Ensures reliable connectivity for safety-critical and lower-emission operations. Automated and Remote-Controlled Operations: Enhances efficiency while minimizing risks and emissions. Predictive Maintenance: Reduces downtime and resource waste.
- Versatile Applications: The calculator is tailored for key industrial sectors such as chemical manufacturing, ports, and mining, accommodating a range of site sizes and operational complexities.
By combining advanced network models with reliable data sources, the Nokia Private Wireless Sustainability Calculator bridges the gap between sustainability goals and measurable outcomes, empowering industries to make informed, impactful decisions.
Communicating the Value of Sustainability Calculator
Effectively showcasing the value of the Nokia Private Wireless Sustainability Calculator is essential to show how mission-critical connectivity can enable more use cases that lower emissions and energy consumption and improve worker safety. The tool delivers measurable insights that connect sustainability goals with operational and financial benefits, making it a compelling asset for decision-makers.
Tangible Metrics for Stakeholders
The calculator provides clear, actionable metrics such as emissions reductions. Annual research with 100 early adopters of private wireless networks revealed significant results:
- Emissions Reduction: 79% of early adopters achieved more than a 10% reduction in emissions.
- Energy Savings: Notable decreases in energy consumption were recorded, underscoring the dual advantage of sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
Building a Business Case
By combining these findings with the tool’s insights, industries can justify investments in digital transformation. The clear link between operational efficiency and ESG benefits strengthens the case for transitioning to private wireless networks.
Effective Stakeholder Engagement
The calculator empowers enterprises to present a compelling narrative to executives and decision-makers, aligning environmental impact with business priorities.
By delivering both environmental and financial insights, the Nokia Private Wireless Sustainability Calculator bridges the gap between sustainability goals and operational performance, making it a critical tool for industries committed to progress.
Benefits and Real-World Applications
The Nokia Private Wireless Sustainability Calculator delivers actionable insights that enable industries to achieve both environmental and operational goals. By estimating improvements in emissions and safety, the tool helps enterprises make meaningful progress toward sustainability.
- Environmental Impact: Medium-sized chemical plants can reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions by up to 25%, demonstrating significant environmental benefits.
- Operational and Safety Benefits: In mining operations, adopting private wireless networks and industrial edge can lead to a 39% reduction in safety incidents, showcasing the tool’s role in enhancing worker safety. Automated and remote-controlled operations, enabled by private wireless, improve efficiency while reducing risks.
- Supporting ESG Goals: The calculator provides industries with data-driven estimates to measure progress against Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets. By delivering insights into the sustainability impact of specific projects, it helps enterprises align their operations with global sustainability standards.
These real-world applications highlight how the calculator bridges the gap between ambitious sustainability goals and measurable outcomes, driving meaningful improvements across sectors.
Future Trends
As industries continue to embrace digital transformation, private wireless networks, and emerging technologies are poised to play an even greater role in driving sustainability. The Nokia Private Wireless Sustainability Calculator is well-positioned to support these advancements.
Digital Twins and Real-Time Insights: Digital twins create virtual replicas of industrial sites, enabling enterprises to monitor energy consumption, identify inefficiencies, and optimize operations in real-time. By integrating with private wireless networks, these technologies provide actionable insights that significantly reduce emissions and energy use.
Edge Computing for Sustainability: The combination of private wireless networks with on-premises edge computing allows for local data processing and real-time decision-making. This reduces the need for energy-intensive cloud computing and ensures faster responses to sustainability challenges.
Partnerships and Third-Party Solutions: Nokia MX Industrial Edge supports various own and third-party applications to support sustainability goals. For example, applications designed to monitor and manage energy usage. These collaborations drive innovation and deliver customized solutions that address industry-specific sustainability needs.
Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond: The integration of private wireless networks with technologies such as edge computing and digital twins will continue to accelerate industrial sustainability. These solutions empower enterprises to break down data silos, enhance efficiency, and achieve ambitious ESG goals while maintaining competitiveness.
By leveraging these trends, industries can further reduce their environmental footprint, improve operational safety, and achieve meaningful sustainability outcomes.