SPECIALIST INSIGHT
optimisation opportunities . This , together with other initiatives such as the use of building management systems , green energy and heat pumps , facilitates the reduction of energy consumption as well as CO 2 e emissions .
What do you foresee as the most significant trends and challenges for the smart building industry over the next decade and how is ABB preparing to address them ?
It ’ s a rapidly growing market . The market size for global electrical enclosures alone is projected to grow from US $ 7.42 billion in 2024 to US $ 13.15 billion by 2032 , driven by renovation and modernisation as well as new construction and of course developments in electrical distribution , which bring more efficiency and reliability .
So , one challenge is to meet demand while considering more sustainable production . At ABB , we aim to create energy-efficient sites , both new , as is the case at Evergem , or retrofitting the existing ones , to meet accelerating demand for smart building components during the energy transition . We ’ re designing sites to fulfil future demand , not just current needs and that will provide a training ground and sustainability roadmap for our people and customers . We are combining digital technologies with measures to reduce energy consumption and increase renewable energy sources at multiple sites .
The main challenge is enabling to retrofit millions of existing buildings – each having very different equipment and from different players . Technologies in both residential and commercial buildings need to talk to each other , to interconnect . ABB ’ s tech is based on open standards and is interoperable . For example , we acquired Eve Systems last year to make us a leading player in Matter and Thread , so we are already working to all these standards .
We address innovation , standardisation , circularity and sustainability with a partnership approach . Keeping pace with new technologies and opportunities such as AI is key and to that end , ABB recently invested in Brainbox AI . The industry needs to consider standardisation ( e . g . KNX , Matter ) to assure ease of use for customers because , alongside the rapid growth of the sector , we must bring simplicity .
When it comes to circularity and sustainability – we use more sustainable materials and recycling methods , as at our factory for electrical installation products in Porvoo , Finland , where plastic from production side streams is recycled . We also send zero waste to landfills at our Italian production site for ABB residual current devices ( RCDs ) and energy meters in Santa Palomba , Italy .
We are decarbonising our own built environment through our scalable programme , Mission to Zero , which covers energy generation , energy management and building automation for industrial and commercial operations . To enable a low-carbon society , ABB is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and partners with customers to avoid emissions and ramp up renewables .
Addressing the world ’ s challenges and solving customers ’ problems and needs is not a solo task . It ’ s a team sport and again we are ahead here with partnerships with Samsung Electronics and Samsung C & T to drive holistic smart buildings technology . By connecting Samsung ’ s SmartThings platform and ABB ’ s smart home solutions for example , residents will be able to use their personal devices to monitor and manage a full spectrum of white goods , as well as gas and smoke detectors , energy management , door entry and comfort systems from a single application .
What inspires you most about your work in the Smart Buildings sector , and what advice would you give to professionals aspiring to make an impact in this field ?
Leading the way with advanced technologies to meet customer needs and the importance of a more sustainable , low-carbon society for my children and grandchildren are my main sources of inspiration and motivation . The buildings sector gives me a generous opportunity to make a difference . This market has experienced significant growth driven by key factors such as increasing urbanisation , rising demand for smart and connected devices , increased awareness of decarbonisation efforts , and succeeding building legislation like the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive ( EPBD ).
Companies like ABB embed sustainability through the very fabric of the organisation . I think this is enormously attractive to potential employees and I am very excited to be a leader in a business that is leading by example . My advice is to look for teams of people with passion and demonstrable potential to have a huge impact on fighting climate change and preserving the earth ’ s resources for future generations . �
50 www . intelligentbuild . tech