General Motors' Fort Wayne assembly plant in Indiana has been recognised by the US Department of Energy (DOE) for its significant strides in decarbonisation. The plant has been awarded a 2024 Better Project Award for its innovative steam elimination and heat recovery system, which has led to a 30% reduction in natural gas usage.
The plant's transformation involved replacing a natural gas-fired steam system with a combined heat and power (CHP) system. This new system utilises heat exchangers to recover waste heat from existing landfill gas-powered generators on site. This recovered heat provides over 80% of the facility's heating needs, dramatically reducing the reliance on natural gas.
The DOE announced the award on Wednesday, highlighting the plant's achievement in reducing carbon emissions against a 2019 baseline year. This successful project has inspired General Motors to explore similar solutions at other facilities, aiming to reduce energy use by 25% across 33 sites.
The Fort Wayne project is part of General Motors' participation in the DOE's Better Climate Challenge, a component of the agency's Better Buildings Initiative launched in 2011. This initiative seeks to promote energy efficiency in buildings and facilities, with over 900 organisations participating.
The Better Climate Challenge requires participants to commit to reducing their scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. General Motors is one of only five industrial sector partners to have already achieved this target, according to the DOE's 2023 Better Buildings Initiative Progress report.
The Fort Wayne plant's heat recovery system not only reduces energy costs and emissions but also prevents emergency sprinkler systems from freezing during colder months, enhancing the facility's resilience. The project aligns with General Motors' broader goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 72% by 2035.
The DOE's Better Project award recognises outstanding achievements in implementing decarbonization, energy and water efficiency, or waste reduction at individual facilities. Other 2024 recipients include Colorado State University, Pace University, RXR Realty, and the New York City Housing Authority.
Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary in the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, commended General Motors for its success and its commitment to sharing its strategies with others.
General Motors is now extending its heat recovery system approach to its St. Catharine's Propulsion Plant in Ontario, Canada, with the system set to go live next year. The company's dedication to sustainability and innovative solutions demonstrates its leadership in promoting a more environmentally responsible future.
