Eco-industrial parks (IPs) present a compelling image of a future in which economic development is closely linked to environmental sustainability. Industry 4.0 will offer tools and solutions that efficiently manage resources, conserve energy, and reduce environmental impact.
Progress in sustainable IP development
The ecological industrial park model has been developed and implemented worldwide since the 1990s. The Kalundborg Industrial Park in Denmark is widely regarded as a prototypical model for establishing a theoretical framework of industrial ecology.
Kalundborg Eco-Industrial Park. Source: ensia.com
There are 7 networks for collaborating and exchanging raw materials, as well as 6 systems for cooperating on water and energy exchange. These initiatives serve a total of eleven companies located in the industrial park.
The coal-fired power station uses the surplus thermal energy it produces from burning coal to generate electricity to heat 3,500 residential units nearby. Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical and enzyme maker, purchases the steam.
The circular symbiotic environment implemented in this industrial park has resulted in an annual cost savings of 24 million EUR for the city of Kalundborg. The current functioning of this industrial park has demonstrated its effectiveness in decreasing the usage of 635,000 tons of CO2, 3.6 million m3 of water, 100 GWh of electricity, and 87,000 tons of solid materials.
Many nations have adopted sustainable industrial park formats, such as ecological industrial parks and industrial-urban-service industrial parks, following the example set by Kalundborg. The Sino-German Ecopark Qingdao in China exemplifies the transformation of industry and the creation of a green and sustainable lifestyle.
30% of the project's total area is allocated for transportation and green space. Buildings that are completely environmentally friendly. Renewable energy has been implemented in several structures. The central database and smart grid enhance the efficiency of production activities. The project further incorporates intelligent waste management, intelligent water management, constructs an environmentally friendly and intelligent transportation network, and strives for industrial symbiosis.
The energy management system implemented at Sino-German Ecopark Qingdao has successfully achieved significant results. It has led to a reduction in carbon emissions by 790,500 tons per year. The system has also achieved an impressive clean energy usage rate of 84.6%, as well as a renewable energy usage rate of 20.6%. Furthermore, it has achieved a comprehensive energy saving rate of 50.7% and a remarkable carbon emission reduction rate of 64.6%.
Currently, nations like the US, Europe, Japan, China, India, and others have established and expanded the global ecological industrial network over a period of more than 30 years. Many other countries, including Vietnam, are actively encouraging this network.
Applying technology to develop green industrial park infrastructure
Vietnam is now in the initial phases of supporting the transition of industrial parks into eco-industrial park concepts. Since 2015, UNIDO has provided assistance to Vietnam in the implementation of eco-industrial park programs and the establishment of new eco-industrial parks. As a result, the market now has a greater abundance of prominent instances of industrial symbiosis in the provision of steam services at Amata Industrial Park. The use of this approach at Dinh Vu - Deep C Industrial Park in Hai Phong has resulted in eco-industrial park activities that offer both environmental and economic advantages.
Vietnam is in the early stages of promoting the conversion of industrial parks to ecological industrial park models.
By 2030, the government's objective is for around 40–50% of localities to transform their current industrial parks into eco-industrial parks. In order to attract investment, we expect 8-10% of localities to incorporate plans for building eco-industrial parks from the first stages of planning, construction, and industry orientation.
According to Mr. Bui Quoc Khanh, the General Director of TNTech Joint Stock Company, the 4.0 industrial revolution has created new opportunities for growth. Vietnam has the potential to seize this opportunity and expedite the implementation of environmentally friendly practices in industrial parks. The planning of green industrial park infrastructure can utilize several technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and edge computing.
TNTech is a part of the ROX Group ecosystem (formerly known as TNG Holdings Vietnam) and is now working on the development of Smart Industrial Park Solutions. Several industrial parks are implementing this approach to reduce operational expenses and effectively handle environmental issues.
A powerful Platform that receives, processes data, shares data, aggregates and connects between physical objects and the digital world will help industrial parks become smarter and greener.
The intelligent management system, equipped with sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, can effectively monitor and analyze real-time energy, water, asset, and waste usage. It promptly alerts users in the event of a crisis, thereby preventing significant damage. The gathered data will be analyzed by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms in order to forecast demand and improve the production process's efficiency. Smart data analysis is an effective technique for calculating green transformation criteria. It allows firms to quickly provide information to consumers and management authorities, thereby improving transparency and social responsibility.
When observing the connection between Kalundborg and Sino-German Ecopark Qingdao, as well as the network of ecological industrial parks, it becomes evident that the combination of economic success and environmental sustainability is achievable in the near future with the use of digital technologies 4.0.
According to experts, Vietnam now has a favorable chance to not only align with worldwide patterns but also serve as an example in the establishment of sustainable industrial parks. The crucial factor in effectively capitalizing on the potential lies in the seamless integration of technology and policy, as well as the collaborative endeavors between the public and commercial sectors to promote sustainable development.