THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING
A CASE STUDY OF ERICSSON’S SMART FACTORY
SUMMARY
Ericsson, a global telecommunications leader, planned a high-profile, highly-automated, 300,000 sq. ft. 5G smart manufacturing "Factory of the Future" in Lewisville, Texas, to meet the rapidly growing demand for its 5G equipment. OurEnergy provided the specialized engineering and procurement to achieve these ambitious goals, on time and on budget.
SOLUTION
As the Owner's Engineer, OurEnergy provided comprehensive needs analysis and engineering review for onsite solar PV and EV charging. The solution features a 633.7 kW DC solar canopy generating over 1GWh annually. The OE team oversaw the procurement and project management for high-efficiency solar technology and negotiated a five year contract for 100% Green-E certified local wind power. OurEnergy also developed a resilient design for immediate construction and feasibility studies for Phase 2's deeper decarbonization.
CHALLENGE
The "Factory of the Future" faced the complex task of balancing high-intensity highly automated energy demands with a strict 100% renewable mandate. The solution maximized onsite generation within the constraints of the existing parking lot layout while ensuring long-term financial and environmental performance through favorable energy contracts and utility incentives.
KEY FINDINGS
The Ericsson project demonstrates how large-scale industrial facilities can achieve carbon neutrality through a hybrid approach: maximizing onsite "behind-the-meter" generation and supplementing it with strategically negotiated "off-site" renewable contracts. It also shows that global environmental requirements are not only achievable, but cost-effective when implemented intelligently and collaboratively.
CONCLUSION
The Ericsson 5G Smart Factory is a model for sustainable industrial development. OurEnergy’s technical oversight and strategic planning ensured that the facility met its rigorous LEED Gold targets on schedule, providing a blueprint for resilient, green manufacturing that supports both environmental goals and operational excellence.
⚡️LEED GOLD ACHIEVED: Successfully met LEED Gold requirements
⚡️RENEWABLE LEADERSHIP: Established as a model for 100% renewable-powered advanced robotic manufacturing
⚡️FLEET ELECTRIFICATION: Deployed six EV chargers, with infrastructure pre-installed for future expansion
⚡️IMMEDIATE RESILIENCE: Demonstrated immediate resilience by operating without interruption during Ice Storm Uri in 2021
RESULTS
PROCESS
OurEnergy played a critical coordinating role between the facility owner and specialized contractors, utilizing a global-local approach. Through rigorous design reviews and value engineering, OurEnergy ensured a high-efficiency solar system. The OurEnergy project team sourced and managed local solar subcontractor Axium Solar, and in close liaison with Ericsson and Cushman Wakefield, ensured all requirements were understood and addressed throughout the process.
Interested in how OurEnergy can support your next project?