- Partnership aims to cut Airbus’ Scope 1 and 2 stationary emissions by 85% and energy use by 20% by 2030.
- Siemens will deliver scalable decarbonization technologies, including renewable integration and smart energy systems.
- Capgemini joins to develop governance and digital infrastructure for the UK and US decarbonization programme.
Airbus Targets Deep Emissions Cuts Across UK Operations
Siemens has signed a strategic contract with Airbus to decarbonize three of the aerospace manufacturer’s largest industrial sites in the United Kingdom — Broughton, Filton, and Stevenage — as part of a broader plan to slash operational emissions across its UK and US operations.
The collaboration sits within Airbus’ global environmental strategy, which targets an 85% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and a 20% cut in energy consumption from 2015 levels by 2030. Siemens will deploy its industrial decarbonization technologies to help Airbus achieve an annual reduction of 80,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by the end of the decade.
Carl Ennis, CEO of Siemens UK & Ireland, described the partnership as a blueprint for collaborative climate action within heavy industry. “Decarbonizing industry can’t be done alone. It demands the right partnerships, the right technology, and the resolve to act,” he said. “Our work with Airbus shows how industry leaders can unlock meaningful emissions reductions through digitalisation, smart infrastructure, and low-carbon energy systems.”
Smart Infrastructure and Digital Energy Systems
The programme will be led by Siemens’ Smart Infrastructure Buildings business, with consulting and digitalisation support from Capgemini. Together, they will deliver what Siemens describes as a replicable “decarbonization masterplan” — a combination of hardware and software solutions designed to monitor, control, and reduce energy use across complex manufacturing sites.
Central to the plan is the use of Energy System Twins, digital simulations that model site-level energy systems to identify optimal decarbonization pathways. These models will inform the design and sequencing of interventions such as heat pump deployment, renewable energy integration, smart metering, and building automation upgrades.
The data-driven approach is intended to allow the partners to replicate successful models across Airbus’ wider network, aligning with the company’s push for measurable, scalable sustainability outcomes across its industrial estate.
Capgemini’s role focuses on governance and digital integration — including the automation of energy monitoring and reporting systems to ensure consistency with both internal ESG targets and external disclosure frameworks.
Implementation Roadmap: From Study to Deployment
The first phase began in mid-2025 with detailed engineering studies and energy audits across the three UK sites. These assessments will shape individual decarbonization roadmaps, setting out investment priorities and timelines.
Infrastructure deployment is set to begin in 2026, with Siemens also positioned to operate and maintain the upgraded systems over time. This long-term operational role is aimed at ensuring sustained emissions reductions, system resilience, and return on capital expenditure.
While the initial focus is on Airbus’ UK facilities, the programme includes at least one US site, extending the reach of the decarbonization model to transatlantic operations.
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Industrial Collaboration in the Net-Zero Transition
The initiative expands on more than five decades of collaboration between Siemens and Airbus — spanning factory automation, digital twin software, and industrial cybersecurity. This latest contract reflects the growing importance of industrial partnerships in accelerating decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors.
For the UK, where manufacturing contributes around 15% of total industrial emissions, projects of this scale align with national targets to halve emissions by 2030. The government’s emphasis on electrification, energy efficiency, and hydrogen integration creates a policy backdrop supportive of private-sector initiatives like this one.
The partnership also strengthens Airbus’ position in meeting its operational sustainability targets ahead of tightening EU and UK disclosure regulations, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirements.
Toward Scalable Industrial Decarbonization
By combining Siemens’ smart infrastructure technologies with Capgemini’s digital governance frameworks, the initiative seeks to create a template for other large industrial operators facing similar transition challenges.
The effort reflects a broader trend among global manufacturers to integrate decarbonization directly into operational decision-making — moving from pilot projects to enterprise-wide emissions management systems.
As Ennis noted, “The UK has both the opportunity and the capability to lead the way to net zero — and we’re proud to be helping deliver that transformation with Airbus.”
The success of the Siemens-Airbus partnership could provide a test case for how technology-driven collaboration can translate decarbonization targets into measurable, repeatable results — not only across aerospace, but across the industrial economy at large.
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