In line with the strategic objectives of the current CERN Management, CERN has been working on a plan to improve the Organization’s energy management in the long term. However, the current energy crisis makes the need to save energy ever more pressing now, and measures are being implemented for the coming winter to ensure that we play our part in mitigating the impact of the crisis. The 2022 year-end technical stop (YETS) will start on 28 November, two weeks earlier than initially planned. In 2023, the YETS is now scheduled to start at the end of October, with a curtailed operational year for the LHC and the operation of the full injector complex reduced by around 20% overall. Should things improve in the meantime, the 2023 plans will be revisited.

In addition, various measures are being implemented to save energy on the CERN campus. These include switching off street lighting overnight, using sleep mode for unoccupied meeting rooms and turning the heating down one degree. Plans have also been developed for reduced-power configurations to face possible load shedding should it be required by our electricity supplier, EDF.

Looking further ahead, work has been proceeding well with our application for ISO 50001 energy management certification. This ISO standard provides a practical way to improve energy performance and allows organisations to integrate energy management into their overall efforts to improve quality and environmental management. As part of the ongoing process, we submitted our energy performance plans for 2022–2026 to the French authorities in June. Our ISO 50001 certification audit is scheduled to be carried out by the French national organisation for standardisation, AFNOR, between 28 November and 2 December. In preparation, we are finalising all relevant documentation and processes, including a new energy management manual, a new procedure for energy procurement, a communications plan dedicated to energy, and a review of the internal bodies responsible for energy management. We are also carrying out a range of technical assessments involving the Laboratory’s largest energy consumers to ensure that we conform to the standard. The Enlarged Directorate also recently approved an energy policy document, which will be published shortly.

An important part of our energy management process is communication to ensure that the whole CERN community is aware of the issues, and that everyone is empowered to play their part. To this end, the CERN and the Environment Workshop on 12 and 13 October includes a session on energy management. A dedicated email address will also be set up, in addition to the Environment@CERN Mattermost channel, to encourage dialogue and to give you the chance to make suggestions on how to improve CERN’s energy management. This is an area that is vital to all of us, and we encourage everyone in the CERN community to help ensure that CERN is part of the solution, now and in the future.