At SES, the billions of items of data exchanged by satellite pass through computer servers located on the Betzdorf site. These servers emit a lot of heat and need to be constantly cooled. Until recently, this need was covered by absorbers, special machines that can transform the waste heat of the cogeneration plants of the site into cold. At the end of their life, this equipment was replaced by more than 2 MW of refrigeration machines from ENGIE Refrigeration, and much more efficient. The heat generated by servers and IT equipment is recovered and now serves to heat all buildings, thus reducing the company's carbon footprint.

In this context, SES has benefited from the support of Enovos, which has encouraged these initiatives within the framework of its enoprimes programme, by covering the investments with a premium representing 5% of the project.

The project, led by the Jean-Schmit Engineering office, not only implements state-of-the-art technologies, but also includes an optimised control system. The company ENGIE Cofely is already at the controls and ensures an accurate follow-up of the adjustments and consumptions of the site.

At the same time, SES wanted to go even further in its environmental efforts and make its headquarters in the Grand Duchy the spearhead of energy efficiency for the entire group. Together with an energy audit in order to analyse all energy consumption and optimise energy management according to EN 16247. This energy advice comes from experts from the Learning Factory and energieagence, subsidiaries of Enovos, Will be added to SES's internal skills. These were reinforced by the training of an employee at the Learning Factory, a centre of excellence in energy efficiency in Foetz.

The enoprimes programme

Within the framework of the European objectives of "increasing energy efficiency by 2020", Enovos has launched a new subsidy programme for all energy renovation, replacement of technical installations or optimisation of energy, production facilities. Intended for both individuals and professionals, the enoprimes programme rewards energy efficiency projects based on the energy savings achieved.

Photo (L-R): Alfred Naschert - Senior Manager, Ground Systems, SES; Jean-Pierre Tibesart - Chief Engineer, Ground Systems, SES; Jean-Marie Beneke - ingénieur, ENGIE Cofely; Kévin Astrié - ingénieur, ENGIE Cofely; Anne-Sophie Lapasset – ingénieur, energieagence; Robert Sikorski - ingénieur, energieagence; Olivier Auchet - Energy Efficiency Manager, Enovos Luxembourg SA; Claudio De Carolis - Key Account Manager, Enovos Luxembourg SA; Michel Lanco - ingénieur; Jean Schmit Engineering