A future-proof energy policy for Nippon Sanso

Need for upgrades in terms of energy efficiency and compliance with legislation

Nippon Sanso, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of industrial and medical gases, operates in more than 13 countries and supplies essential products such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon and hydrogen to a wide range of industrial sectors. With a strong focus on social responsibility and sustainability, the company aims not only to deliver top-quality products but also to optimise its energy consumption and remain fully compliant with rapidly evolving legislation, including the mandatory energy audit requirements for non-energy-intensive companies.

Although Nippon Sanso already has a strong internal focus on innovation, they were looking for an external partner who could take a fresh and critical look at their processes. The complexity of new legislation and the need for structural energy savings called for specialist expertise and a sparring partner willing to challenge existing approaches and think proactively about future opportunities.

A long-term partner that thinks ahead, adapts and provides ongoing support

Encon worked closely with the teams at Nippon Sanso, bringing structure, expertise and momentum to their sustainability efforts. We organised targeted brainstorming sessions on energy efficiency, during which we challenged existing ideas and identified new opportunities. These ideas were further developed, analysed and narrowed down to a practical shortlist of concrete measures.

For several sites, including Zwijndrecht, Lillo and Lommel, we provided support with energy plans, energy monitoring, audits and technical studies. We also took care of the entire administrative process, drafting, completing and submitting all required documentation on time. Whenever new obligations emerged, such as the upcoming BACS legislation, we proactively informed the team and carried out a thorough gap analysis.

Annual savings of €127,000 and improved energy efficiency

The collaboration between Nippon Sanso and Encon evolved into a genuine co-creation partnership, characterised by a continuous exchange of expertise and insights. This resulted in measurable energy savings, improved legislative compliance and increased operational efficiency.

For example, thanks in part to our recommendations, the regeneration heater in Zwijndrecht achieved annual energy savings of 1,266 MWh, resulting in direct cost savings of €127,000 per year. In Lommel, the energy audit identified additional annual savings of 257 MWh, equivalent to €31,000 in reduced energy costs.

Our energy analyses also identified specific optimisation opportunities for the expansion projects in Lillo and Zwijndrecht, significantly improving the efficiency of the production facilities.