Harnessing Emerson’s Rosemount Acoustic 708 and Plantweb Insight to Support EU ETS Compliance and Sustainability Goals

In the pursuit of net-zero emissions, energy-intensive industries such as paper and pulp are under growing pressure to reduce carbon footprints and increase operational efficiency. As the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) tightens allowances and accelerating the cost of carbon, paper manufacturers are increasingly compelled to adopt smarter, data-driven strategies to optimize energy consumption and lower emissions.

A often-overlooked but highly impactful opportunity lies in steam systems — particularly in the monitoring and maintenance of steam traps. These small but critical components are responsible for discharging condensate while retaining live steam. When they fail, they either leak valuable steam or allow condensate to build up, undermining system performance and efficiency.

The “Steam Trap Problem”

According to industry estimates, 15–30% of steam traps fail annually, leading to significant energy losses. In large paper mills — where hundreds or even thousands of traps are in use — this can result in millions of euros lost in wasted energy and excessive CO₂ emissions, directly affecting EU ETS reporting and compliance costs.

Paper production relies heavily on steam, especially in the drying section of the papermaking process, where thermal efficiency is paramount. The failure of a single steam trap can lead to hundreds of tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually. Multiply that across a fleet of traps, and the environmental and financial implications are substantial.

Emerson’s Digital Solution: Acoustic 708 + Plantweb Insight

To address this challenge, Emerson offers an innovative solution that combines the Rosemount™ Acoustic 708 Wireless Transmitter with Plantweb™ Insight analytics. This combination delivers real-time, wireless steam trap monitoring and actionable insights, enabling proactive maintenance and performance optimization.

Key features include:

• Continuous Monitoring: The Acoustic 708 uses acoustic sensors to detect ultrasonic signatures of steam trap activity, identifying leaks, blockages, or blow-through conditions.

• Wireless and Non-Invasive: Easily installed without shutting down operations, the device transmits data using WirelessHART® technology, ideal for retrofitting legacy systems.

• Advanced Analytics: Plantweb Insight aggregates data from multiple traps and applies diagnostic algorithms to provide performance dashboards, alerts, and maintenance recommendations.

• ETS-Ready Reporting: By quantifying steam losses and their CO₂ equivalence, the system supports more accurate carbon accounting and helps reduce ETS compliance costs.

Plantweb™ Insight does not only offer the analytics but also supports a wide range of other applications. Next to Steam Trap Monitoring, mechanical integrity & reliability at paper mills are equally important. WirelessHART vibration monitors can be used and integrated within the Plantweb™ Insight platform for monitoring of vibration & PeakVue+ levels of the drying section for example.

Linking to Sustainability and EU ETS Goals

The EU ETS incentivizes emission reductions through a “cap and trade” mechanism. As allowances become scarcer and more expensive, improving energy efficiency becomes a strategic imperative. Smart steam trap monitoring directly contributes to:

• Carbon Reduction: Identifying and fixing failed traps leads to immediate energy savings and CO₂ reductions, often with payback periods under one year.

• Transparency and Reporting: Provides verifiable data to support sustainability reporting frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Science-Based Targets.

• Circularity and Resource Efficiency: Reducing steam losses aligns with industry goals to improve water and energy circularity in line with the EU Green Deal.

Industry Results and Potential

Early adopters in the paper industry have seen up to 10% reductions in steam consumption, translating to hundreds of tonnes of CO₂ saved annually per facility. This not only lowers ETS costs but also enhances a company’s environmental credentials with customers and regulators.

With digitalization now central to industrial decarbonization, steam trap monitoring is a low-hanging fruit with a high ROI. By combining the precision of the Rosemount Acoustic 708 with the intelligence of Plantweb Insight, Emerson empowers paper producers to turn maintenance into a sustainability driver—helping the industry meet its environmental obligations while improving profitability.