The UK’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has far-reaching implications for every sector of the economy. For industrial and manufacturing businesses—among the most energy-intensive operators in the country—the pressure is especially acute. Not only are energy costs rising, but regulatory obligations are tightening, and public and investor scrutiny of environmental performance is only increasing.
If factories and large industrial premises are to remain competitive, compliant and sustainable, energy usage must become more than a line item on the utility bill—it must become a strategic priority. And that begins with visibility. You can’t manage what you can’t measure.
The Role of Energy Management in Industry
For any business to effectively reduce its energy consumption and carbon output, it first needs accurate, real-time insight into how that energy is being used. That’s where a robust Energy Management System (EMS) comes in. At its core, an EMS allows businesses to monitor and analyse energy usage at every level—across entire sites, individual zones, production lines, and even specific assets. This data enables operational teams to spot inefficiencies, highlight anomalies, and make informed decisions about how to reduce waste, shift demand, and improve energy performance.
In an industrial context, this might involve identifying machinery that runs unnecessarily out of hours, lighting systems that are over-specified for the space, or HVAC systems that are running against occupancy patterns. Crucially, EMS platforms also support compliance reporting and help businesses meet the growing expectations around ESG transparency and carbon disclosure.
Monitoring Multiple Sites with LoRaWAN
For manufacturers operating across multiple sites or complex facilities, managing energy becomes even more challenging. Traditional wired systems can be costly and disruptive to install, especially in large-scale industrial environments with legacy infrastructure. This is where LoRaWAN—Long Range Wide Area Network technology—comes into its own.
LoRaWAN enables wireless, low-power communication between sensors and a central data platform, making it ideal for energy monitoring across expansive or hard-to-access areas. Sensors placed throughout a facility—or even across multiple regional sites—can transmit detailed energy data over long distances to a single gateway, which relays the information securely to the cloud. There’s no need for extensive cabling or constant maintenance; in fact, many LoRaWAN sensors can operate for years on a single battery.
This infrastructure allows businesses to gain full visibility of their energy consumption across a portfolio of sites. Whether it’s a network of warehouses, processing plants, or production lines, energy data can be centralised, compared, and acted upon in one unified system.
The Installation Process
Implementing an energy management system in an industrial setting begins with a detailed site survey and energy audit. This helps identify key energy loads, priority areas for monitoring, and opportunities for savings. Elcomponent works with clients to assess existing infrastructure and design a LoRaWAN-based system that is tailored to the site’s layout, operations, and technical requirements.
Once the design is agreed, sensors are installed at strategic points—on distribution boards, lighting systems, HVAC units, and production machinery. LoRaWAN gateways are then positioned to capture data from across the site and transmit it securely to the cloud. The data is visualised through an intuitive, web-based platform where facilities teams, engineers, and sustainability managers can monitor performance, receive alerts, and generate reports.
Importantly, this process is designed to be non-disruptive. Most sensors can be installed without downtime, and the system can be expanded over time to include more sites, assets, or reporting functions.
Why It Matters: Compliance, Carbon and Cost
The benefits of a robust EMS go far beyond regulatory compliance—though that in itself is critical. Under the UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, large organisations must report their energy use and emissions annually. The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) requires energy audits every four years. Businesses that fail to comply risk fines and reputational damage.
But these frameworks are just the beginning. As we move closer to the UK’s 2050 deadline, we can expect legislation to become more stringent. Minimum energy efficiency standards for buildings, emissions caps for specific sectors, and mandatory energy reduction targets are all on the table.
For industrial businesses, installing an EMS is a way to get ahead of these changes. It enables proactive management, rather than reactive firefighting. It builds a track record of performance that can support future funding, investment, and stakeholder engagement.
Financially, the case is just as strong. Data from the Carbon Trust and other industry bodies suggests that energy savings of 10–25% are achievable through targeted monitoring and improvement. That’s not just a win for the planet—it’s a material saving on operating costs, particularly in energy-intensive sectors where even small reductions can translate into large financial gains.
A Smarter Path to Net Zero
Reducing industrial carbon emissions is not optional—it’s essential. But it needn’t be disruptive, costly, or complex. With the right tools and expertise, large factories and manufacturers can build scalable systems that give them full control over their energy performance.
By adopting LoRaWAN-enabled energy monitoring, businesses gain the flexibility to monitor multiple locations, respond quickly to problems, and create a meaningful strategy for long-term carbon reduction. More importantly, they gain confidence—confidence that they’re not only meeting today’s requirements, but preparing for tomorrow’s.
Elcomponent is trusted by industrial businesses across the UK to deliver scalable energy management solutions that reduce cost, improve performance, and support carbon compliance. To discuss your site, contact us for a free consultation.