ABB Robotics announced an initiative to develop a global, standardized method for measuring the energy consumption and efficiency of industrial robots.
"Unlike other products such as fridges, TVs, washing machines and motors, there is no standard for measuring the energy consumption of a robot," ABB Robotics Head of Sustainability Gianluca Brotto said. "This initiative will empower customers to make informed decisions and help the industry reduce its carbon footprint.”
Collaborating with the Swedish Institute for Standardization (SIS), ABB Robotics developed a proposal with experts from different robot manufacturers and research institutes, which led to the creation of a technical specification for global adoption. This is due to be completed by August 2026.
Internal ABB studies show that more than 70% of its customer robots’ carbon footprint stems from electricity usage during its operational phase. With over 4 million industrial robots operating worldwide, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), companies will aim to reduce their emissions from energy consumption in line with the Paris Agreement.
