INDUSTRIAL LUBRICANTS
Why do we need to focus on friction reduction when wind power and photovoltaics are solely available?
Dr Mathias Woydt, Matrilub
The current challenge facing industry is to aim for a future in which we have a world that is energised completely by carbon neutral supplies. But it is worth asking how this hypothetical future will help us to save energy, and how can we manage the transitional period before then?
Irrespective of the aforementioned questions, when neither ourselves nor our children will experience this theoretical end state of fully carbon neutral supplies, it is obvious that energy not consumed downstream does not needs to be produced upstream, independent from the type of source. This also applies to CO2
neutral energy sources as we would need less
of them in future. So, saving in the use phase (scope 3, category 11) through less friction is and remains a key desired goal.
Scope 4 “avoided emissions” is a kind of flashlight or torch that has been discussed for a long time, may be for too long, which clearly shows and illuminates a significant path to climate neutrality.
Before bits, bytes, bitcoins and artificial intelligence will drive the transformation into a completely virtual 22nd century, the remaining 21st century will continue to be “material”, meaning that machines and equipment with moving parts will require lubrication to lower friction and to increase their longevity which will ultimately lead to lower
downstream CO2eq. emissions. The striving for
prosperity of an ever growing population will fuel the hunger to consume more energy and more materials in future. Consequently, there is no alternative to adopting the science of tribology and lubrication in order to mitigate energy demand and to increase machine life.
The prosperity desired above all, which grows globally, especially in Asia as well as India, is craving greater lifestyle comfort, such as air conditioning, monsoon proof houses of solid constructions, the switch from two-wheels to four-wheels in transport, refrigerators and freezers and air travel. All of which triggers an increase in primary energy demand and fuels resources consumption beyond the imagination. Nobody wants in future to live without these luxuries! and national politics have the pressure to make this possible.
According to forecasts, total global primary energy (TPES) consumption will increase from 595 exajoules (EJ) in 2021 [1] to more than 700 EJ in 2040 [2]. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates an increase to 723 EJ by 2050 in the stated policies scenario [3]. Furthermore, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that the annual primary energy consumption will increase up to 810 exajoules (range 699-956 EJ) by 2050 [4]. The question is whether this growth can be met entirely by renewable Continued on page 10
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.187 JUNE 2025 9
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