Energy sources audit

Energy sources are the cornerstone of the operations of every industry, installation and facility. In the analysis of energy sources, the basic question to ask concerns the cost of a unit of energy produced in a given source, and further what sort of environmental parameters accompany each energy production process. Within the scope of energy sources analysis, first of all it is necessary to examine the efficiency of energy production in order to identify potential savings, which may be applied in the event the efficiency of fuel consumption by sources is increased.

Scope of the audit

Audit is aimed at identification of possibilities to reduce the consumption of primary energy from the fuel (electricity, coal, gas, biomass and lump fuel) by improving the gain of heat, cooling and electricity, as well as through the reduction of energy losses and fuel costs.

The main task to be completed as a part of the audit work is to provide a balance of all types of energy and to determine the best way to produce energy, with regard given to the needs of particular areas of power engineering.

Based on the measurements, the profitability analysis of the proposed investments will be carried out and the potential to use alternative energy sources will be assessed.

Scope of research and analysis:

analysis of contracts and costs of generation and acquisition of all types of energy,
analysis of the efficiency of heat and steam production, including determination of energy losses in the steam pressure reduction process
analysis of the potential to utilize energy recovered from the production process, compressed air systems and ventilation,
analysis of cooling efficiency (ice water, cooling water),
analysis of the possibility to use renewable energy sources and cogeneration system (co-generation of electricity, heat and cold).

Measurements for the above specified scope:

performance measurements of boilers,
measurements which makes it possible to propose recovery of waste heat (temperature, flow, power),
measurement of chilled water and cooling (temperature, flow, power),
cooling source efficiency measurement (cooling towers, chillers),
measurement of the quality of electricity in the connection.

The summary of the audit includes the presentation of economic effects achieved through implemented changes, together with approximate costs of recommended implementations and savings resulting from the upgraded system operation.

Types of modernization which have been so far implemented by our corporate group:

Investment	Energy savings [MWh]	White Certificates [toe] (Poland)	Savings [USD/Y]	Investment costs [USD]	SPBT [Y]
Freecooling	1 847.893	182.321	143 777.30	616 400.00	4.3
Modernization of central heating installations	1 930.089	162.478	107 928.38	1 003 778.81	9.3
Modernization of the hot water system	11 253.926	548.256	32 366.70	38 542.86	1.2
Modernization of the compressors room and compressed air system	171 541.245	47 121.557	2 104 967.63	3 123 404.68	1.5
Modernization of the sources of heat - modernization of boilers	244 155.212	12 651.636	3 251 313.66	13 144 064.96	4.0
Reduction in contracted capacity	9 564.207	4 090.676	1 433 777.02	421 979.37	0.3
Heat recovery	443 844.755	29 325.797	15 523 671.80	61 812 777.51	4.0
Coolant flow adjustment for the purpose of process technology	3 239.499	245.524	251 033.31	658 189.94	2.6
Drive control in the area of power generation	347.355		28 518.27	14 849.14	0.5
Use of absorption compressors for the production of cold	781.824	321.000	469 741.41	1 116 550.00	2.4
Introduction of the control of cooling devices	525.965		43 441.85	140 402.54	3.2
Implementation of the back-pressure turbine to produce electricity	334 436.757	169 436.876	15 392 187.11	78 954 371.43	5.1
Introduction of the cogeneration system (combined heat and power - CHP)	48 525.719		6 624 166.64	23 545 842.57	3.6
Changing the operating parameters of the compressed air system	8 952.519	20.931	242 897.05	353 936.57	1.5
Changing the chilled water parameters in the cooling system	1 798.493	148.000	141 962.00	98 285.71	0.7
Changing the tariff for power supply			880 748.25	2 101 944.29	2.4
Modernization of the cooling system	56 857.190	16 288.795	5 687 736.10	20 965 030.00	3.7
Other	1 712.166	176.000	219 290.69	224 688.76	1.0
Total	1 341 314.814	280 719.847	52 579 525.16	208 335 039.14	4.0

Overall, in consequence of the audit recommendations within the scope of energy sources, our clients reduced their energy consumption by approximately 1 341 GWh and thus achieved the average annual savings of nearly USD 52.5 million. The total payback period covering all investments slightly exceeded 4 years.