Accelleron and Sauber’s F1 team: Partners in the race to decarbonization
F1 partnership update | Baden, Switzerland | Oct 2, 2024
The drive to decarbonize is a priority for Accelleron. The company is approaching the challenge of global climate change with vigour, and collaborating with customers, academics and industry associations to develop low-emission technologies.
This commitment to shaping a greener future, coupled with Accelleron’s expertise and curiosity, has led it to go further in the search for answers, and to explore findings from other industries. One of these is Formula 1®.
For many years Accelleron has worked collaboratively on technology projects with Sauber Motorsport, the Swiss-based organisation that runs Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from a campus in Hinwil, close to Accelleron’s headquarters in Baden.
While Formula 1 might seem a world away from the turbocharging industry, when it comes to a decarbonization agenda the two organisations have lots in common.
For more than 70 years, Formula 1 has been at the cutting edge of innovation. It’s a sport where fierce competition drives engineering progress through the adoption of new ideas and materials. According to Pat Symonds, the sport’s Chief Technical Officer, Formula 1 is “a breeding ground of innovation, an area where efficiency is a keyword to performance and competitiveness.”
In the past, the primary beneficiaries of this innovation were the drivers who could reach higher speeds or rely on more grip in fast corners. Now Formula 1 is sharing its influence way beyond the race track, and is becoming a case study for low-carbon transformation. And this is something of keen interest to Accelleron.
Supporting its pledge to ‘accelerate technologies that decarbonise the world’, Formula 1 has set itself the goal of reducing the CO2 emissions of its operations, events, logistics and race cars to Net Zero by 2030.
As operators of one of only 10 teams on the F1 grid, Sauber has a big part to play in delivering the sport’s ambitions, and it is helping to develop the next generation of cars and innovate in other areas – on and off the track.
“Our partnership with Sauber puts Accelleron at the heart of a sport driven to decarbonize and provides us with exclusive insight into technologies and processes that are relevant to our customers,” Annika Parkkonen, Accelleron Chief Human Resources and Sustainability Officer, says.
“As our two core markets, the marine and energy sectors are facing increasingly strict requirements for lower carbon emissions and the transition to low-carbon fuels. Pushing forward the development of our products and services supports our purpose of accelerating sustainability.”
Annika Parkkonen, Accelleron Chief Human Resources and Sustainability Officer
Turbocharging on track and beyond
When it comes to engines, Formula 1 and Accelleron share the same efficiency challenge: how to get more performance from less fuel. Both apply turbocharging technology to boost fuel efficiency, thus reducing environmental impact by decreasing emissions.
Formula 1 claims that its current 1.6-litre, V6 turbocharged hybrid power unit is the world’s most efficient engine. By 2026, this power unit will have taken another step forward, with the addition of a more powerful hybrid system that will contribute 350kW of electrical power. Less fuel will be used, but not at the expense of performance. This next-generation power unit will give each driver 1,000 horsepower under their right foot.
Since 2022, Formula 1 cars have run on E10 fuel – a hybrid blend of 90% gasoline and 10% renewable ethanol. From 2026, the cars will be powered by a drop-in 100% sustainable E fuel. This new fuel will ensure no new fossil carbon will be burned, with carbon instead derived from non-food sources and municipal waste.
The amount of fuel used by each car in a race is also dropping sharply. In 2013, the figure was 160kg and in 2020 it had dropped to 100kg. In 2026, Formula 1 is aiming for each car to use just 70kg of fuel during a Grand Prix.
Reducing CO2 on the move
The decarbonization story developing in Formula 1 isn’t just confined to the circuit. According to the sport’s figures, in 2019 more than 70% of Formula 1’s CO2 total came from logistics and transport – the shipping and air freighting of people and equipment to 23 Grands Prix annually. By 2030, these logistical activities will be counted towards the net zero total.
Initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions on the move include the introduction of remote broadcasting operations that reduce the volume of freight carried to and from each race, and redesigned freight containers that enable greater packing efficiency.
In 2023, Formula 1 introduced a fleet of 18 equipment trucks powered by a drop-in hydrotreated vegetable oil biofuel. During the European leg of the season they travelled more than 10,600 km and transported an average of 300 tonnes of freight per race.
An EU-approved certification organisation calculated that these trucks reduced carbon emissions by an average of 83% compared to their diesel-powered equivalents.
Efficiency in operation
When it comes to F1 races, the Singapore Grand Prix is a model for the sort of operational changes that can reduce carbon use. According to organisers of the 2023 event, 85% of grid electricity consumption was carbon neutral; B7 biodiesel was used to power 48% of the Circuit Park and energy-efficient LED lights reduced energy usage from track lighting by around a third.
Sauber meanwhile is rolling out more carbon reduction initiatives of its own. Energy management systems are employed throughout its Hinwil campus, including a district heating system that is powered by a nearby refuse processing plant. The site also generates its own renewable energy using one of the largest photovoltaic parks in Switzerland.
On track, Sauber uses the power of digitalization to optimise car and power unit performance. Since the start of its partnership, Accelleron has worked collaboratively with Sauber to explore how F1-derived expertise can be applied in the development of its own data systems.
“There is such a close connection between digitalization and sustainability,” explains Cristian Corotto, President of Accelleron’s Digital Division. “Nowadays organisations need reliable data based on key performance indicators to improve their ESG footprint.
“Digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing and those employed in Formula 1 by Sauber, drive the green transition and facilitate our customers’ sustainability transition.
“Through working together, we share knowledge and experience in data collection and analysis for better decision-making – and that’s been valuable for us both.”
Accelleron’s Tekomar XPERT marine software, which provides insights into hull and propellor conditions and their effect on propulsion efficiency, is one of a new generation of smart tools that provide end users with powerful insight.
Looking ahead in the marine industry, having an automated system which displays current and forecast Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) measurement is expected to be one of the must-have tools for ship owners seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Harnessing emission reporting data and adding an analytic layer on top provides the insights that enable ship owners and operators to act early on CII ratings,” explains Cristian. “In a world where regulatory measures are increasing all the time, these informed decisions are a vital step on the path to decarbonization.”
Other Accelleron areas have benefited from the application of Formula 1 thinking to boost efficiency. Sauber’s expertise in additive manufacturing, for instance, is enhancing Accelleron’s ability to produce 3D-printed turbocharger parts with minimal waste and reduced material usage.
In time, this will lead to reduced warehouse expenses of long-lasting spare parts, new design possibilities and improved supply chain resilience.
Responsible innovation
“Accelleron contributes to industry decarbonization through a process of ‘responsible innovation’. It is key to our future growth and something that our collaboration with Sauber Motorsport contributes to,” Annika Parkkonen says.
“The partnership is a great example of how we can gain valuable insight from other technology innovators.
“As Formula 1 moves closer to its net zero goal, we look forward to continuing our partnership and exploring what else we can learn and apply within our respective operations. By sharing expertise and working collaboratively on such an important topic, we can deliver the low-emissions future the planet needs.”