Companies large and small are joining efforts to make the world greener and more sustainable through eco-friendly products and long-term supply chain solutions. From product recycling to materials management, concrete steps are being taken to combat climate change.

On the “Renewable Energy Takes Center Stage” panel at CES 2020,  industry leaders from the government and tech companies highlighted how their companies are making renewable energy a priority, and what major shifts must occur.

Storage Is Key to Successful Renewable Efforts

Though solar power cannot become much cheaper, according to Connor Prochaska, chief commercialization officer at the U.S. Department of Energy, wind power is seeing further developments, and the next stage of successful renewable energy efforts is storage.

Ramya Swaminathan, CEO of Malta Inc., added, “Electricity storage is not a nice-to-have; it’s a need-to-have.”

Across the world, cities are making policy changes to have a storage mandate in order to move toward 100% renewable energy.

Business Units Must Coordinate

In thinking about decarbonization and emissions, companies need synergy among all departments around an environmental vision.

Janet Lin, director of energy and digital at Panasonic, highlighted an example of recycling battery products. A battery that is designed for use in electric vehicles can then be repurposed, after it no longer meets vehicle requirements, to accommodate secondary considerations as well, passing to a different department or business unit.

“[We’re] not just reducing energy emissions and waste through directly owned and controlled facilities,” she said. “[We’re] thinking through product stewardship and lifecycle management.”

Digitization of Infrastructure Is Game-Changing

Connecting infrastructure data to a common platform can create efficiencies across transportation, energy and water networks, said Martin Powell, chief sustainability officer at Siemens USA.

“[Digitization] is not just about saving money. This is going to save carbon. It’s going to reduce air pollution. It’s going to have a societal impact,” he said.

If there is a goal to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030, Powell outlined, companies have a responsibility to impose targets through supply chains and reach the net-zero goal faster. From electrifying vehicles at a larger scale to improving smart building functions, digitization can help speed up the shift to complete sustainability.

Watch the whole “Renewable Energy Takes Center Stage” panel discussion from CES 2020.