By combining Fujitsu's unique technological capabilities in areas like quantum-inspired computing and AI with METRON's expertise in energy management, the two companies have jointly developed a new environmentally-conscious energy management service "Energy Consumption Optimization" to help customers improve productivity. Fujitsu and METRON plan to launch the service, prioritizing the Japanese and German markets starting from April 2024.
This move marks the latest milestone in ongoing collaboration between the two companies, following an initial investment through a fund managed by its subsidiary Fujitsu Ventures Limited (1) in March 2023.
Fujitsu and METRON will exhibit details of the new service at Hannover Messe 2024, one of the world's largest international manufacturing exhibitions, to be held in Hannover, Germany, on April 22, 2024.
Vincent SCIANDRA, CEO of METRON, comments:
“This alliance with the world class IT leader Fujitsu will enable METRON to accelerate its international development. We are proud to reach a new milestone in Europe by launching our services in Germany for the first time and strengthen our presence in Japan, a country where METRON already has a local footprint with measurable achievements towards industrial decarbonization.”
Yoshinami Takahashi, Corporate Executive Officer, Corporate Vice President, COO, Head of Global Solutions, comments:
“Fujitsu's Digital Annealer executes complex simulations that can only be achieved with quantum-inspired technology, making it possible to offer solutions to our customers that not only help to increase productivity, but also reduce environmental impact and energy expenditures. Partnering with METRON, we look forward to delivering comprehensive energy management solutions to manufacturers in Japan and Germany, to help promote carbon neutrality through innovation.”
Background
To realize the global common goal of a carbon neutral society, companies worldwide are increasing their focus on measures to reduce their carbon footprint and comply with environmental laws, regulations, standards and information disclosure, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
Under Fujitsu Uvance, Fujitsu’s business model to contribute to the solution of societal issues, Fujitsu has been providing a platform for the management of ESG initiatives that supports customers in their decision making by proposing measures using tools like generative AI.
METRON has been supporting customers in visualizing energy consumption and increasing operational efficiency of various manufacturing facilities in factories with its "METRON Energy Management and Optimization System" (hereinafter EMOS) tool and its expertise in the energy business.
The new, jointly developed energy management service combines Fujitsu’s know-how in ESG management and its quantum-inspired Digital Annealer (2) technology with METRON's EMOS tool to enable both energy cost reduction and productivity improvement. Leveraging METRON’s EMOS to visualize power information for various facilities and Fujitsu’s Digital Annealer to utilize data including the amount of electricity used by facilities, electricity prices, production volume, and time required for production, Energy Consumption Optimization enables high-speed simulations based on multiple variables and indicators, including peak electricity and production efficiency, that cannot be performed using conventional technologies. In this way, the new service supports timely management decisions by formulating a production schedule optimized to maximize efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of operations.
Future Plans
Moving forward, Fujitsu and METRON will apply the new service in use cases including the visualization of energy data and energy optimization of electricity consumption not only for manufacturing plants with high GHG emissions, but also in commercial facilities and offices. Together with their customers, the two companies will work to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality and a more prosperous and livable society.
[1] Fujitsu Ventures Limited :Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Hideaki Yajima
[2] Quantum-inspired Digital Annealer :A computing technique inspired by quantum technology that can handle complex calculations at high speed
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.7 trillion yen (US$28 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.
About METRON
METRON is a French cleantech company whose raison d'être is to digitalise energy in order to decarbonise territories. The software solution developed by METRON enables companies in all business sectors to analyse and optimise their energy consumption in real time and reduce their carbon footprint. Founded in 2013 in Paris, METRON has 110 employees worldwide. Key players in the energy sector have recognised METRON as a global game-changer: ranked in the "Global Cleantech 100" in 2022 (San Francisco) and French Tech Green20 in 2021 and 2022, and French Tech 2030 in 2023 and awarded by BloombergNEF (New York) in 2019, among others. The METRON solution is also certified as a "Solar Impulse Efficient Solution" for the world.Find out more: metron.energy
